METLEN Energy & Metals is investing €295.5 million to expand Greece’s bauxite and alumina industry while establishing new domestic gallium production, creating an integrated critical-minerals platform with strategic importance for Europe. The programme is designed to connect several stages of the mineral value chain, from bauxite mining and alumina processing to gallium production, rather than focusing solely on expanding raw-material extraction.
METLEN plans to produce around 2 million tonnes of bauxite annually, approximately 1.265 million tonnes of alumina and up to 50 tonnes of gallium per year. Bauxite expansion is expected to begin in 2026, while the alumina and gallium facilities are targeted to reach full production around 2028.
Gallium Gives Project Strategic Importance
Gallium is the most strategically significant part of the investment. The metal is used in semiconductors, telecommunications, defence equipment, advanced electronics and high-performance power technologies, while European industry remains heavily reliant on imports. A major new production source in Greece could therefore strengthen Europe’s supply security for a critical raw material and reduce exposure to external suppliers.
The project has attracted approximately €90 million in European Investment Bank financing, reflecting its alignment with broader European efforts to develop domestic critical-minerals supply chains. METLEN has also secured a long-term agreement covering around 25% of expected annual gallium production with a major US technology customer. The offtake agreement provides greater visibility over future demand and reduces commercial risk as the project moves toward production.
Building on Greece’s Existing Mining Industry
The investment benefits from Greece’s established bauxite and alumina industry, allowing METLEN to build on existing mining operations, processing infrastructure, technical expertise and logistics networks. This integrated approach distinguishes the project from a conventional greenfield mine. Instead of exporting material at an early stage of processing, METLEN intends to capture additional value through refining and the production of higher-value materials.
For Southeast Europe, the project demonstrates how established mineral resources can be combined with advanced processing to create more sophisticated industrial supply chains. Bauxite provides the resource base, alumina delivers large-scale industrial output, while gallium adds exposure to a smaller but strategically important market at the centre of Europe’s critical-raw-material strategy.
