News: Suppliers
2 December 2024
Australia’s MTM to develop US-based critical materials recovery for Indium Corp
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed for MTM Critical Metals Ltd of West Perth, WA, Australia to develop a US-based processing solution using its Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology to recover high-value metals — including gallium, germanium, indium and tin — from various scrap sources provided by Indium Corp of Clinton, NY, USA (a supplier of refined gallium, germanium, indium and other specialty technology metals).
The initiative aligns with US efforts to establish a secure domestic supply of critical materials. Testing on Indium-supplied feedstocks is already underway at MTM’s Texas-based laboratory.
By establishing an onshore processing capability, the partnership addresses strategic vulnerabilities in the US supply chain, reducing reliance on imports from China, which currently dominates global supply and processing of these metals and has previously curtailed supply by restricting exports of refined metals.
“This partnership with MTM aligns with our commitment to enhancing US-based supply chains for critical metals essential to modern technologies,” says Indium’s global business unit manager Markus Roas. “FJH technology offers a novel and sustainable solution to recover these vital elements from waste materials, ensuring reliable access without relying on external sources. Secondary raw materials and urban mining will become key pillars for the future,” he believes.
“We are thrilled to partner with Indium, a global leader in critical technology metals, to secure a US-based supply of metals essential to the defence, semiconductor and high-tech industries,” says MTM's CEO Michael Walshe. “This collaboration represents a significant milestone for our company, providing strong external validation of our technology,” he adds. “Together, we are tackling supply chain vulnerabilities with an innovative approach to efficiently recover critical metals domestically, advancing US efforts towards critical metal independence.”
US Department of Energy releases 2023 Critical Materials Assessment
