RCS - Metlen Eng & Metals - Invests €295.5m in bauxite, alumina and gallium

Metlen Energy & Metals SAAnnouncement

16/01/2025 09:30

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RNS Number : 5973T  Metlen Energy & Metals SA  16 January 2025

 

New Large-Scale Mining, Metallurgical, and Industrial Investment by METLEN
Amounting to €295.5 Million

Development of an Integrated Production Line for Bauxite, Alumina, and Gallium

·    Investment Plan of €295.5 million

·    Total Annual Production Capacity of1,265,000 tonnes of alumina, 50 MT
of Gallium, and ~1 million tonnes of bauxite

·    Full substitution of Gallium imports in Europe

·    Improvement of Greece's trade balance through increased exports

Athens, Greece - January 16, 2025 - METLEN (https://www.metlengroup.com/)
(https://www.metlengroup.com/) Energy (https://www.metlengroup.com/)
(https://www.metlengroup.com/) & (https://www.metlengroup.com/)
(https://www.metlengroup.com/) Metals (https://www.metlengroup.com/) (METLEN)
announces that the Metallurgy Committee, in a joint session with the Capital
Allocation Committee, made the Final Investment Decision (FID) today, January
16, 2025, to proceed with the implementation of a new large-scale investment
in the production of bauxite, alumina, and Gallium.

 

This landmark project, to be implemented in Agios Nikolaos, Viotia, within the
historic "Aluminium of Greece" plant, represents a milestone in the history of
the Metallurgy Sector. It will significantly enhance the production capacity
while incorporating Gallium into industrial production for the first time, a
critical material for Europe's future.

 

The €295.5 million investment plan aims to achieve a total production
capacity of 2 million tonnes of bauxite (annually), 1,265,000 tonnes of
alumina (up from 865,000 tonnes currently), and 50 MT of Gallium for the first
time. All three materials are included in the European Union's list of
Critical Raw Materials (CRMs). The total capital expenditure (Capex) includes
the following investments:

 

·    Development of research and new bauxite mining deposits,

·    Construction of new facilities and procurement of mechanical
equipment for Gallium production,

·    New facilities and equipment for the expansion and modernization of
alumina production capacity,

·    Energy supply infrastructure for the industrial unit,

·    Port expansion and upgrades,

·    Other road infrastructure and flood protection projects,

 

 

Evangelos Mytilineos, Chairman and CEO of METLEN, commented: «The decision by
METLEN to proceed with the implementation of a new, landmark industrial
investment in the production of bauxite, alumina and Gallium, strengthens
Europe's self-sufficiency in critical raw materials and bolsters Greece's
strategic position on the global landscape. Moreover, it shields the European
industry from external dependencies. We are proving our commitment to
innovation, sustainable development, and circular economy, while reaffirming
METLEN's role as a leader in the transition toward greener and more resilient
industrial production. »

 

Specifically for Gallium, it should be noted that it is a by-product of
certain qualities of bauxite (including Greek bauxite) during the refining
process into alumina, with its production being almost entirely concentrated
in China. However, China's decision to impose export restrictions on Gallium
(July 2023) highlighted the West's vulnerability and the need to diversify
supply sources.

 

METLEN's investment enables Europe to completely substitute Gallium imports,
significantly bolstering its strategic autonomy and minimizing reliance on
external suppliers. This autonomy is crucial for reducing dependence on third
countries and ensuring the production of critical technologies across various
sectors, from energy transition to defence. For instance, Gallium is essential
for:

a) Integrated Circuits (IC) used in computing and telecoms,

b) Light emitting diodes (LED) and

c) Permanent magnets etc.

 

The production of these three critical materials-valued at approximately €1
billion-will be exported to European and North American markets.

 

This state-of-the-art investment will also introduce new environmentally
friendly technologies, reducing the facility's carbon footprint. In addition,
through critical synergies with METLEN's Energy Sector, energy costs will
become completely sustainable.

 

METLEN has submitted the investment project under Greece's Strategic
Investments Law. The investment also meets the criteria of the "Temporary
Crisis and Transition Framework" (TCTF), aimed at supporting the economy in
the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

 

Furthermore, the project recently received the European Commission's STEP SEAL
(so called "Sovereignty Seal"), recognizing its significant contribution to
the EU's self-sufficiency in critical raw materials (CRM).

 

METLEN is committed to keeping investors informed of the project's progress.
Completion of the works and production start-up is scheduled for 2026 for
bauxite, with alumina and Gallium production beginning gradually from 2027 and
full-scale operation by 2028.

 

For further information please contact:

Ms. Antigoni Fakou: METLEN Press Office, Tel. +30210-6877346 | Fax
+30210-6877400 | E-mail: Antigoni.fakou@metlengroup.com
(mailto:Antigoni.fakou@metlengroup.com)

 

METLEN:

METLEN Energy & Metals - evolution of MYTILINEOS Energy & Metals - is
a multinational industrial and energy company, a leader in the metallurgy and
energy industries, focused on sustainability and circular economy. The Company
is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, with a consolidated turnover and
EBITDA of €5.492 billion and €1.014 billion, respectively. METLEN is a
reference point for competitive green metallurgy at the European and global
level, whilst operating the only vertically integrated bauxite, alumina and
primary aluminum production unit in the European Union (E.U.) with privately
owned port facilities. In the energy sector, METLEN offers comprehensive
solutions, covering thermal and renewable energy projects, electricity
distribution and trading, alongside investments in grid infrastructure,
  battery storage, and other green technologies. The Company is active in
the markets of all five continents, in 40 countries, adopting a full-scale
synergetic model between the Metallurgy and Energy Sectors, while undertaking
end-to-end development of major energy infrastructure projects.

 

For more information, please visit: www.metlengroup.com
(http://www.mytilineos.gr/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/metlengroup)
| Twitter (https://twitter.com/MytilineosSA) | YouTube
(https://www.youtube.com/user/MytilineosGroup) | LinkedIn
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/6646293/)

 

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