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METLEN gallium production initiatives in Europe

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2026-10-05 06:55 UTC → 2026-10-05 18:32 UTC · added ~~removed~~

METLEN CEO Evangelos Mitilineos has identified significant risks to European energy security and resource stability, citing geopolitical instability in Ukraine and the Middle East. He specifically highlighted the vulnerability of the gallium market, noting that China produces approximately 950 tons of the 1,000-ton annual global volume, which led to price volatility following 2023 export restrictions. To address these shortages, METLEN is investing €295.5 million—including €90 million from the European Investment Bank—to establish the European Union’s first integrated gallium production line in Boeotia, Greece. Located at the former ‘Aluminium of Greece’ plant, the facility extracts gallium as a byproduct of bauxite processing. The project aims to provide a sustainable, autonomous supply chain for the high-tech industry, particularly as the global gallium market is projected to grow from $841 million in 2025 to $1.8 billion by 2032 due to demand for semiconductor technologies like gallium nitride. METLEN has ~~already~~ secured significant international ~~interest. Following an initial agreement with a US-based firm, the company has now signed~~ interest, including a long-term commercial contract with a leading Japanese chemical company to supply up to 16% of its total annual production. ~~CEO~~ This agreement marks the second strategic contract for the company. The Greek facility, which utilizes proprietary technology, is scheduled to begin commercial production in the third quarter of 2027 with a target annual capacity of 50 metric tons. Executive Chairman Evangelos ~~Mytilinaios~~ Mytilineos stated that the international response has ‘exceeded expectations,’ ~~signaling a global industrial push to diversify supply sources away from Asian markets. While aiming for production costs as low~~ positioning Greece and Europe as ~~$100 per kilogram to resist market fluctuations, Mitilineos has previously criticized~~ emerging hubs in the ~~European Union~~ strategic supply chain for ~~a lack of necessary funding and long-term trade commitments~~ materials essential to ~~support domestic producers.~~ artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and defense systems.

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