Source: NAH
NAH drilling of an exploration well
The new $32m facility near Battle Creek in the southwest of Saskatchewan – about 15 miles from the US-Canada border – is expected to produce more than 50 million cubic feet per year of purified helium for commercial sale.
The plant is owned and operated by Calgary-based NAH which started up its first helium production facility at its Cypress field in July last year. The Cypress field is producing 10 million cubic feet per year (Mcf/y) of helium.
“We are very excited to start up our second helium plant in Saskatchewan ahead of schedule and anticipate running a significant helium exploration and development program into the future,” NAH President and Chief Operating Officer Marlon McDougall said.
CANADA S LARGEST HELIUM PURIFICATION FACILITY OPENS IN SASKATCHEWAN carlyleobserver.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from carlyleobserver.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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.
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