The U.S. Department of Energy has designated helium a critical material, citing its importance to semiconductor manufacturing and growing risks to supply.
The designation, announced Friday under the Energy Act of 2020, recognizes helium’s essential role in energy technologies and vulnerability to supply disruptions. The department says the gas has no viable substitute in several applications, including semiconductor manufacturing, testing natural gas infrastructure for leaks and quantum computing.
“Helium is essential to producing the semiconductors and advanced technologies that power our economy,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement on Friday.
Global helium demand is outpacing production, while limited refining capacity and lengthy permitting timelines constrain U.S. output despite substantial domestic resources, the department said.
Helium is largely recovered as a byproduct of natural gas processing. Its availability therefore depends partly on the development and operation of facilities producing the fuel.
U.S. sales of refined and gaseous helium reached an estimated 81 million cubic metres in 2025, compared with 80 million a year earlier, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The country remained a net exporter, shipping 38 million cubic metres abroad and importing eight million.
Source: www.northernminer.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.
