Meeting growing global demand & bringing helium back to Australia.
Australia imports all of its Helium; we at Natural Helium Tasmania are changing this with advanced geophysics and manufacturing systems.
Projections indicate that global demand is expected to escalate from approximately 6 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per annum to between 8.5 and 10 Bcf per annum by 2030.
The demand for helium is rapidly rising due to its essential role in;
Medical/Healthcare (MRI Machines)
Cools superconducting magnets in MRI scanners to near absolute zero, enabling critical diagnostic imaging
Electronics & Semiconductor Manufacturing
Creates controlled atmospheres for fiber optic cable production and computer chip manufacturing, preventing contamination
Scientific Research & Space
Cools particle accelerators, telescopes, and rocket fuel systems; NASA uses it extensively for spacecraft pressurisation
Welding & Industrial Applications
Provides inert shielding gas for arc welding, especially for materials like aluminum and stainless steel
Leak Detection & Testing
Its tiny molecular size makes it ideal for detecting leaks in air conditioning systems, pipelines, and aerospace components
AI Data Centres
Cryogenic cooling vital for superconducting magnets in quantum computers and high-performance data infrastructure used in emerging AI technologies.
Long term benefits, the environment and sustainability
While helium is cosmically abundant, terrestrial reserves are finite, primarily accumulated from the decay of thorium within the Earth's crust. The increasing demand, coupled with volatile supply chains, has underscored the need for sustainable sourcing.
Tasmania’s advantage…
Tasmania has a unique geological history with rich reserves of critical minerals and it is also home to "green helium" – helium sourced from non-hydrocarbon environments, thereby mitigating the carbon footprint associated with conventional extraction methods from oil and gas production. This shift towards cleaner extraction processes aligns with global environmental objectives and contributes to the long-term sustainability of supply in Australia.
We are working with world leading technology companies to carefully extract and process Natural Helium, bringing advanced manufacturing capability into Tasmania powered on renewable energy.
NHT Strategic Advantages
1,085 tonnes per year gross production. Over 10% of global semiconductor-grade helium demand. Fifth-largest helium producer worldwide at first production.
Globally material scale
Cleanest feedstock chemistry globally
He-N₂ feed with no hydrocarbons, mercury or sulphur. Mercury-free by reservoir, not by purification rigour. Net capex lower than peers despite higher 6N purity target.
Lowest carbon footprint in industry
Estimated 80% lower than Qatari LNG-coupled benchmark. Tasmania near-100% renewable grid plus structurally simpler process train.
Outside every geopolitical chokepoint
Direct Pacific and Indian Ocean shipping to Asian fabs. Independent of Strait of Hormuz, Straits of Malacca, and South China Sea.
AUKUS-aligned sovereign supply
Only material-scale producer in AUKUS jurisdiction. Defence and dual-use application alignment. EU CRMA Strategic Project eligible.
Concentrated premium customers
Direct access to Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea fab clusters. TSMC, Samsung, SK Hynix, Intel as offtake counterparties at scarcity pricing.
Global helium production by source (tonnes/year)
NHT ranks 5th globally at first production
Helium in Everyday Australian Life
Fourteen places helium touches ordinary life, either in a product's manufacture or in direct use
Semiconductors take about 24 per cent of global helium. Wafer cooling, EUV lithography, plasma etch and deposition, and vacuum leak testing in chip fabrication, with no viable substitute.
1 Smartphones, computers
and Al chips
Rapidly cools the glass fibre during high-speed drawing, and acts as carrier and sweep gas in preform manufacture.
5 Internet and the NBN (optical fibre)
Helium replaces nitrogen in breathing mixes to avoid narcosis at depth and to manage decompression.
6 Deep Diving and Commercial Fishing
Helium leak testing of lithium-ion cells and packs. A microscopic breach lets moisture reach the electrolyte and can trigger thermal runaway, so packs are tested for a hermetic seal.
2 Electric Vehicle Batteries
A closed-circuit helium and oxygen breathing test measures the air left in the lungs after a normal breath out, which spirometry alone cannot capture.
3 Lung Function Tests
(helium dilution)
Pressurises and purges cryogenic propellant tanks during launch. The everyday link is the services that ride on it: GPS, weather satellites and satellite internet.
4 Rocket and Satellite
Launch
A helium and oxygen mix lowers airway resistance and the work of breathing in airway obstruction.
7 Heliox for Asthma, COPD and Croup
About 1,500 to 2,000 litres of liquid helium hold the superconducting magnet near 4 K, removing all electrical resistance in the coils.
8 Hospital
MRI Scans
Freezes solid tumours in lung, liver, kidney, prostate and skin. Argon freezes the tissue, helium drives the thaw.
9 Cancer Surgery (argon-helium cryo knife)
Leak detection. The small helium atom finds faults that other gases cannot reach.
10 Air Conditioning, Fridges and Gas Lines
(gas chromatography) – Standard carrier gas for GC and GC-MS: pesticide residues, doping tests, blood alcohol and adulterated supplements.
11 Food Safety and Drug Testing
A helium and oxygen mix lowers airway resistance and the work of breathing in airway obstruction.
12 Car Airbags
Lifts radiosonde balloons carrying instruments aloft, launched daily across Australia.
13 Weather Forecasting
Helium leak testing of inflators, a life-safety component with leak limits too tight for air- based methods to detect.
14 Welding of Vehicles, Trailers and Aircraft