Sangdong mine eyes role in securing tungsten for chip industry

The Sangdong mine in Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, is becoming a crucial component in efforts to establish a non-Chinese tungsten supply chain for the semiconductor industry. Managed by Almonty Korea Tungsten Corp. (AKTC), the mine ranks among the world's largest tungsten deposits and has progressed from development to full production capabilities.

The Sangdong mine is anticipated to supply tungsten concentrate, enabling the creation of higher-value materials like high-purity tungsten oxide. AKTC asserts that the mine can bolster Korea's domestic critical-mineral security and offer a fallback source for global semiconductor and advanced-manufacturing industries, which remain heavily reliant on China.

The significance of the mine's development has grown due to mounting concerns over global tungsten hexafluoride (WF6) supplies. WF6 is a specialized gas employed in semiconductor metallization processes, including tungsten deposition vital for 3D NAND, DRAM, and high-bandwidth memory. As demand surges from AI servers and data centers, and the qualification process for WF6 advances, the Sangdong mine's role in securing a stable tungsten supply for the semiconductor sector becomes increasingly vital.