News: Microelectronics
11 June 2026
Nimy and Curtin University awarded funding for gallium processing research in Western Australia
Mining exploration company Nimy Resources Ltd of Perth, Western Australia and Perth-based Curtin University are to undertake what is described as a pioneering research program into processing gallium.
Currently, domestic and international industries that rely on secure and sustainable supplies of gallium are reliant on a small number of foreign producers of varying reliability, with no established extraction or refining capability in Australia.
To address this, the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) will contribute $550,000 to the two-year project, which is co-funded by Nimy and Curtin University-led Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer and will investigate innovative pathways to concentrate, extract and refine gallium ores locally.
Picture: Rohan McDougall with Luke Hampson at Curtin University. (Photo courtesy of Curtin University).
“Curtin was proud to apply its metallurgical expertise to such a strategically important project,” says Curtin executive director commercialisation Rohan McDougall. “Demand for gallium metal is rising rapidly, so developing local processing capability is critical to ensuring supply chain resilience and supporting the clean energy transition. Sustainable gallium processing in Western Australia would not only strengthen Australia’s sovereign supply of critical minerals but also deliver vital skills, research opportunities and shared knowledge with the next generation of scientists and engineers,” he adds.
“The MRIWA funding was a major step in unlocking the mineral resources at Nimy’s Mons Project in Western Australia,” notes Nimy Resources’ managing director Luke Hampson. “By working with Curtin University, we aim to establish Australia’s first gallium processing capability to support global technology supply chains, reduce reliance on non-Western-aligned producers and position Western Australia as a global leader in critical minerals innovation.”
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