METLEN targets critical metals to bolster European strategic autonomy

METLEN Executive Chairman Evangelos Mitilineos has outlined the company’s strategic expansion into critical metals, focusing on gallium, germanium, and scandium to support European industrial competitiveness.

Speaking at the Financial Times Energy Transition Summit and on CNBC, Mitilineos highlighted METLEN’s investment in gallium production. The company’s expansion aims for a production capacity of 1.3 million tonnes of alumina and 50 tonnes of gallium, with commercial operations scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2027. He noted that gallium prices have surged from under $500 per kilogram to $3,500 per kilogram since the company’s initial strategic positioning.

Mitilineos emphasized the necessity of securing Europe’s strategic autonomy amidst shifting geopolitical landscapes and high energy costs. He warned that if the future of Europe and Ukraine is decided without significant European involvement, the continent’s status as a global player could be at risk. To protect its industrial base, he advocated for strengthening European competitiveness through innovation, recycling, and securing access to essential raw materials.