Russia prepares to reshape the international helium market

4

The construction of a large-scale production facility in Siberia is nearing completion in Russia. According to experts, the activities of the enterprises being built may in the near future undermine the international market for helium, which is increasingly important in medicine. technology, space exploration and national security. StarTribune writes about Russia's "helium" ambitions.

The United States and Qatar together produce the vast majority of helium in the world. But from 2021, Russia plans to take high export positions for this gas. Russia's ambitions coincide with America's withdrawal from the global helium business. In this regard, many fear that Moscow will use the same methods of political pressure when trading helium as it does against consumers of Russian natural gas and crude oil.



According to Michael Dall, an economist at the IHS Markit research company, in the early stages, helium supplies from Russia could lower world prices. But in the "long game", the dynamics of prices and supplies may become more politically motivated, as is the case in OPEC when trading oil.

One of the world's largest untapped natural gas fields with a high helium content is located in Siberia. The Kremlin is preparing to seriously reshape the global helium market with the launch of Gazprom's specialized enterprises next year. The Russian gas concern will sell to the world market canisters with cryogenically cooled liquid helium from Vladivostok, which has good opportunities for transporting gas to China and the western United States.

According to the helium market analyst Phil Kornbluth, having reached the peak of its gas production capacity in the mid-20s, Russia plans to produce from 25% to 30% of all helium used in the world.
  • https://www.gazprom.ru/
Our news channels

Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest news and the most important events of the day.

4 comments
Information
Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.
  1. -1
    21 December 2020 16: 55
    On September 23, 2020, at the Lakhta Center site in St. Petersburg, a presentation of the helium production and marketing project was held as part of the Eastern Gas Program implemented by Gazprom.

    The event was attended by Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Gazprom, Anton Inyutsyn, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, Vitaly Markelov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Gazprom, Sergei Kogogin, General Director of KAMAZ, and Lyubov Brish, General Director of Gazprom Helium Service ...

    In the East of Russia, Gazprom is building the Amur Gas Processing Plant (GPP, project implementation status - 66%). Here, from the multicomponent gas of the Chayandinskoye and, in the future, the Kovykta fields, transported through the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, helium will be released and liquefied, among other valuable components. It is in demand in high-tech industries. The demand for helium is growing, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region. By the volume of helium production - 60 million cubic meters. m per year - the Amur GPP will become the world leader.

    "Fresh" news however laughing
  2. -2
    21 December 2020 17: 38
    Gazprom, however.
    With all the consequences
  3. -1
    22 December 2020 11: 12
    will sell cryogenically cooled liquid helium canisters to the world market

    - why, it's convenient ...
  4. 0
    23 December 2020 13: 39
    Maybe after this the development of airship building will begin? These can be good competitors for Boeing and Airbus. And for cargo and small aircraft - the Klondike in general!