METLEN Energy & Metals said construction of its planned gallium facility in Greece was progressing according to plan, while commissioning of its critical-metals demonstration plant in Thessaloniki was advancing. The company expects first shipments of high-purity metal oxides by the end of 2026. Its nine-month trading update was published on 5 November.
The gallium facility is designed to produce 50 tonnes per year. Two long-term supply agreements cover about 25% and up to a further 16% of projected annual output, giving the project prospective customers for part of its planned production before commissioning.
METLEN’s update noted that gallium is used in compound semiconductors, power electronics and specialised industrial systems. A European production source would be strategically relevant because refining capacity and supply-chain control are concentrated outside the region. The agreements do not establish that production or deliveries have begun.
Demonstration plant and aluminium investment
The Thessaloniki facility is intended to validate technology, product quality and commercial processing routes. METLEN has not described it as a full-scale operating refinery, and the expected shipments remain dependent on commissioning.
The company’s wider investment programme includes a proposed 50% increase in alumina capacity to 1.3 million tonnes annually. It is also investing nearly 25 million euros in additional automated sorting, processing and melting equipment for recycled aluminium.
METLEN’s metals division generated 728 million euros in revenue during the first nine months of 2026, up 6%. Total aluminium production reached about 178,000 tonnes in the period, compared with roughly 175,000 tonnes a year earlier. Its existing aluminium and alumina operations provide an industrial base for developing higher-value critical-materials production.
For European buyers, the test will be whether the facilities can consistently meet high-purity specifications at competitive costs and with reliable delivery schedules. The commercial contribution depends on successful commissioning, product qualification and fulfilment of initial supply commitments.
