Is President Putin’s Statement from 3 Years Ago Coming True?
According to a report by TASS on March 25, Russia’s helium production could reach 75 million cubic meters by 2030. This massive helium output from Russia is expected to meet 45% of global demand, as projected by the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, a branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The potential for helium production in Russia is concentrated in the West Siberian and Far Eastern regions, where 35 helium-rich fields have been discovered. “Considering all the planned projects, Russia’s helium production could reach a total of 75 million cubic meters by 2030 and maintain this level until the mid-21st century. The helium fields in West Siberia and the Far East will cater to approximately 45% of global demand, with the Asia-Pacific region being the main customer,” stated an expert from the Trofimuk Institute.
Experts believe that the growth of advanced technology sectors, such as cryogenic technology, space exploration, and healthcare, will create conditions for increased domestic helium demand.
President Putin, in a televised conference, attended the launch ceremony of Gazprom’s helium center in Vladivostok, named the Amur Gas Processing Plant, back in 2021.
“After reaching maximum operating capacity by 2025, the Amur Gas Processing Plant is expected to become the largest helium production complex in the world. It will supply helium to domestic consumers and position Russia as a leading global helium supplier,” said Putin during the 2021 launch event.
According to Helium-one.com, global helium demand is estimated to be around 6 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per year, with China alone importing 1 Bcf annually. The projected annual demand is expected to increase from 6.0 Bcf to 8.5 Bcf by 2030.
The Applications of Helium in High-Tech Manufacturing
According to the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), helium is the second most abundant element in the universe after hydrogen. It is present in every star and is formed through the alpha decay of radioactive elements on Earth.
Helium is a crucial resource in technology, science, medicine, and manufacturing. Many consider it as an essential item of the digital revolution due to its significance in a wide range of high-tech applications.
For instance, helium is used as a coolant for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), as well as for cooling superconducting magnets in MRI scanners and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers.
It is also utilized for cooling satellite devices and for cooling liquid oxygen and hydrogen, which supply energy to Apollo spacecraft.
Helium is used for leak detection, such as in automotive air conditioning systems. Its rapid diffusion makes it ideal for inflating airbags after a collision.
An 80% helium and 20% oxygen mixture is used as artificial breathing gas for deep-sea divers and others working under pressure conditions.
Helium-neon gas lasers are used for barcode scanning at supermarkets, and a new application of helium is the helium-ion microscope, which provides better image resolution compared to scanning electron microscopy.
References: TASS, RSC, Kremlin.ru