Sangdong mine eyes role in securing tungsten for chip industry
The Sangdong mine in Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, is emerging as a strategic asset in efforts to build a non-Chinese tungsten supply chain for the semiconductor industry. Operated by Almonty Korea Tungsten Corp. (AKTC), the mine is one of the world’s largest tungsten deposits and has moved from development toward production readiness. The Sangdong mine is expected to supply tungsten…
The Sangdong mine in Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, is gaining significance as a potential anchor in constructing a non-Chinese tungsten supply chain for the semiconductor sector. Managed by Almonty Korea Tungsten Corp. (AKTC), the mine stands as one of the world's largest tungsten deposits and is transitioning from development to production readiness.
The Sangdong mine is anticipated to deliver tungsten concentrate, which will aid in the creation of higher-value materials such as high-purity tungsten oxide. AKTC asserts that the mine can bolster Korea's domestic security for critical minerals while offering an alternative source for global semiconductor and advanced-manufacturing industries that are predominantly reliant on China.
The importance of the mine's development has soared due to mounting concerns over global tungsten hexafluoride (WF6) supplies. WF6 is a specialized gas utilized in semiconductor metallization, encompassing tungsten deposition processes essential for 3D NAND, DRAM, and high-bandwidth memory. The surge in demand from AI servers and data centers is amplifying the demand, while the validation of alternative tungsten sources is gaining traction.
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- Sangdong mine eyes role in securing tungsten for chip industry koreatimes.co.kr
