North American Helium has inaugurated the largest helium purification plant in Canada, located in southwest Saskatchewan. The new facility in close proximity to Stewart Valley is projected to yield around 73 million cubic feet of helium annually, as stated by the company.
This development is anticipated to boost Saskatchewan’s yearly helium production by more than 40%, according to an announcement from the provincial Ministry of Energy and Resources. Minister of Energy and Resources Chris Beaudry emphasized the significance of helium as a valuable resource for the province, alongside oil, potash, and uranium.
The province aims to elevate Saskatchewan’s helium output to 10% of the global helium supply by 2030, Beaudry noted. Helium finds applications in various industries such as medical, defense, space exploration, and advanced manufacturing, including MRIs, cryogenics, superconducting, and rocketry, according to Deric Orton, North American Helium’s vice president of land and stakeholders.
North American Helium stands as the primary helium producer in Saskatchewan, having invested $700 million and drilled over 120 wells in the province over the past decade. Gas extracted from the wells is transported to the purification facility via pipelines, mentioned Clayten Wenaas, field engineer and operation superintendent for North American Helium.
Upon reaching the purification facility, the gas primarily comprises nitrogen with a small helium content. Wenaas explained that the gas undergoes heating, filtration, and compression processes until it reaches 99% helium purity before being shipped to liquefaction facilities in the United States.
CEO Nicholas Snyder projected that the Stewart Valley facility could yield $30 million in royalties for the province. Snyder highlighted the significance of Saskatchewan’s helium production, emphasizing its reliability and energy efficiency amidst a global helium shortage due to conflicts in the Middle East.
With the new purification facility operational, Snyder revealed plans to establish a liquifying facility in Swift Current, which would be a pioneering initiative in the country. This move aims to enhance efficiency, reduce emissions from transportation, and bolster the economic landscape of the industry in the region.
Swift Current MLA Everett Hindley expressed optimism about the development, citing its substantial potential for the area’s future. The provincial government is advocating for helium to be included in the list of 15 critical minerals eligible for a federal exploration tax credit, recognizing the unique resource that Saskatchewan offers.
“It’s a critical mineral that the world needs,” Snyder reiterated, underscoring the importance of helium as a sought-after commodity globally.