Positioned where demand accelerates
The Rukwa Basin sits at the intersection of proven helium geology and an undersupplied global market. We're not creating demand — we're positioning to meet it where it's already accelerating.
Why helium matters
Independent supply for critical infrastructure
Primary helium is not tied to natural gas extraction. That means a cleaner, more resilient supply for the technologies reshaping our world.
The Primary helium difference
Helium makes up 25% of the universe, yet it's extremely rare on Earth and impossible to manufacture. Today's supply depends almost entirely on byproduct extraction from oil and gas, where concentrations sit between 0.05% and 0.3%. Both low-grade and fragile.
Primary helium delivers higher grades, strategic independence from hydrocarbon markets, and stronger supply resilience. It's high-value, ISO-transportable, and doesn't require pipeline infrastructure. With demand accelerating and legacy sources in decline, the world needs a different approach.
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The chips powering AI, data centres, and advanced computing depend on helium for ultra-precise fabrication. As demand for processing power accelerates, so does the need for reliable helium supply.
US$500m+
Semiconductor helium market in 2025
Quantum computers operate at near-absolute-zero temperatures, achievable only with helium. As the world races to unlock quantum capabilities, helium supply becomes a matter of technological sovereignty.
29.73%
Projected CAGR by 2035
Rocket fuel systems, satellite cooling, and deep-space missions all depend on helium. The new space economy can't scale without secure, diversified helium sources.
18%
Of global demand, accounted for
Fusion reactors require helium for superconducting magnets and cryogenic cooling systems. As the world moves toward commercial fusion power, helium becomes critical infrastructure for clean energy generation.
US$575bn
Projected market value by 2030
MRI machines require liquid helium to function. With healthcare systems expanding globally and diagnostic technology advancing, helium is critical to saving lives.
15%
The largest helium end-use share
Helium creates the controlled atmospheres needed to manufacture fibre optic cables. As global connectivity demands grow, so does the need for reliable helium to keep the world connected.
~6%
Annual global helium consumption
High-performance data centres use helium cooling to manage heat from densely packed servers. As cloud computing and AI workloads scale, helium helps maintain the infrastructure that keeps the digital economy running.
4X
Projected growth in 10 years
Helium-oxygen breathing mixtures enable deep-sea exploration and commercial diving operations. From subsea construction to scientific research, helium makes the depths accessible and survivable.
82%
Helium composition in commercial saturation diving gas
A widening supply gap
Legacy sources can't keep pace with demand. And the gap is accelerating.
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5-7% annual growth
Demand is rising across semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, aerospace, defence and healthcare, while legacy sources continue to decline.
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52% price increase
Helium prices rose by over 50% between 2020 and 2025, as supply tightened and market volatility increased.
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90% of supply, 4 nations
Over 90% of helium is produced as a natural gas byproduct, with supply concentrated among operators in the US, Qatar, Russia and Algeria.
Why Rift Helium?
Helium in Rukwa is no longer a geological question. Structural containment is. Rift Helium is built to answer that question through smart access.
Independent by design
Focusing exclusively on primary helium isn't just cleaner — it's strategically smarter. No hydrocarbon dependency means our supply is independent, resilient, and built for the long term.
Third-mover advantage and discipline
Third-mover advantage means we enter at the structural accumulation stage — not the frontier validation stage. Every step, from 3D seismic in 2026 to drilling in 2027, is designed to upgrade probability before committing capital.
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Closer to the demand
From Tanzania’s east coast, Rift can ship to Asia and Europe with clear sea access. Asia accounts for ~60% of helium imports and Europe ~30%, making proximity a strategic advantage.
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The market is shifting east
In the last decade, helium imports to Asia have grown by ~33% and Europe by ~11%. Imports to the Americas have dropped by ~54%, as demand patterns evolve.
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Semiconductor driven
Asia’s semiconductor growth is a major driver of rising helium demand. Rift’s location supports reliable delivery into the markets scaling fastest.