RareX (ASX:REE) has executed a strategic collaboration agreement with privately held Australian technology company Gega Elements known for gallium extraction technologies.
The collaboration complements RareX’s broader strategy of building vertically integrated, future-facing critical mineral supply chains in alignment with Australian industrial policy and global demand trends.
Gega Elements is developing ‘next-generation’ gallium refining solutions based on proprietary materials science research.
Its approach focuses on creating a cost-effective, environmentally responsible, and sovereign-controlled processing pathway — one that could establish Australia’s first domestic gallium production capability.
Under the agreement, RareX and Gega will collaborate to combine RareX’s gallium-bearing samples from the Cummins Range and Khaleesi Projects with Gega’s advanced refining methods to evaluate and ultimately commercialise a fully integrated gallium supply chain.
During the three-year term of the agreement, Gega will test and refine its technology on RareX samples and, subject to a successful demonstration, the parties will enter into good faith negotiations regarding the key principles of a binding agreement, including the relationship of the parties, exclusivity, joint development and commercial rights in relation to any collaboration IP.
RareX will have an option to negotiate exclusive rights to any gallium refining intellectual property developed using ore or data from its Cummins Range and Khaleesi Projects, for application at those projects.
Managing Director James Durrant says the partnership with Gega Elements helps position RareX as one of a select few large-scale potential gallium developments outside China.
“Gallium is critical for semiconductors, 5G, and defence — yet almost entirely controlled by a single jurisdiction,” says Durrant.
“Through this collaboration, we’re working to change that, leveraging RareX’s resource scale and Gega’s science-driven approach to build a truly sovereign supply solution.”
RareX is a critical minerals company specialising in rare earths and niobium in hard rock carbonatites. The exploration focus is on the new Khaleesi Project in the East Yilgarn which is a district-scale, elevated-niobium, alkaline intrusive complex, the Mt Mansbridge xenotime heavy rare earths project near Browns Range and the Cummins Range near-mine anomalies.
RareX has been curating a portfolio of carbonatite-related projects including the newly acquired ‘bulls-eye’ Piper Project along trend from both Nolans Bore and the Luni niobium deposit.
The company continues to develop and optimise its portfolio. RareX maintains material investments in Kincora Copper (ASX:KCC), Cosmos Exploration (ASX:C1X) and Canada Rare Earth Corporation (TSX-V:LL.V).
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: RareX
