Located near Battle Creek in the province s southwest corner, the facility cost $32 million.
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CBC News ·
Posted: Apr 28, 2021 6:17 AM CT | Last Updated: April 28
The government expects Saskatchewan will have many more helium sites in the future. (North American Helium Inc./nahelium.com) comments
The provincial government says a new helium purification facility in southwestern Saskatchewan is the largest facility of its kind in the country.
Located near Battle Creek in the province s southwest corner, the facility cost $32 million.
Demand for the gas once used mainly for military, weather and party balloons has been steadily rising, creating shortages and spiking prices in recent years.
Helium Purification Facility Opens in Saskatchewan
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CANADA S LARGEST HELIUM PURIFICATION FACILITY OPENS IN SASKATCHEWAN
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Helium is a highly desirable commodity used in medical research, semiconductor manufacturing, space exploration, fibre optics, and advancements in nuclear power generation. This facility will create and support local jobs, enable the province to scale up helium production, and grow export capacity, Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said. It will also further diversify our natural resource sector and position Saskatchewan as a leading supplier of a critical element that the world needs. Helium is included on both the Canadian and American lists of critical minerals, considered necessary for the modern economy, emerging technologies or which face supply chain risks. Prices for helium have risen by more than 160 per cent since 2017, as a result of increased global demand and shortage of supply. Canada currently has the fifth-largest helium resources in the world, with significant underground reserves in Saskatchewan.
By Drew Postey
The largest helium purification facility in Canada is now operational in southwestern Saskatchewan.
Operated by North American Helium Inc. the $32-million facility is located near Battle Creek and is expected to produce more than 50-million cubic feet of purified helium per year for commercial sale.
That’s enough to fill about 40,000 balloons everyday.
In a news release the province says helium is a highly desirable commodity used in medical research, semiconductor manufacturing, space exploration, fiber optics and advancements in nuclear power generation.
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“This facility will create and support local jobs, enable the province to scale up helium production, and grow export capacity,” Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said in a release. “It will also further diversify our natural resource sector and position Saskatchewan as a leading supplier of a critical element that the world needs,” she added.