SEOUL, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Non-ferrous metal giant Korea Zinc said it plans to build a gallium recovery facility in the country to manufacture the critical raw material beginning in 2028.
Toward that end, the company plans to invest $39 million in its Ulsan factory, about 190 miles southeast of Seoul. Its yearly gallium capacity is expected to reach 15.5 tons.
The announcement Sunday came at a time when the United States and China remain at odds after Beijing tightened export controls on rare earth elements early this month.
Although gallium, a key material used in semiconductors and light-emitting diodes, is not a rare earth element, it is classified as a "critical mineral" by Washington and Seoul, according to Korea Zinc.
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