Canada's Helium Evolution project nearing completion in its construction stage

Saskatchewan, Canada, is making significant strides in the helium industry with its ambitious Helium Action Plan. The province aims to supply 10% of the global helium market share by 2030, a goal that involves the establishment of over 150 helium production wells and up to 15 purification and liquefaction facilities.

The cornerstone of this plan is the Soda Lake Facility, currently in its final stages of construction. This processing facility, a joint project between Helium Evolution Incorporated (HEVI) and North American Helium Incorporated, will initially be supplied by three helium wells connected through a dedicated pipeline gathering system. HEVI holds a 20% working interest in both the Soda Lake Facility and the related gathering system, representing an investment of around $5.3m.

The facility, located in south Saskatchewan, is designed to process 12 million standard cubic feet per day of raw gas. Construction of the wellsite metering facilities and associated pipeline infrastructure is currently underway and is expected to take a month to complete. The startup of the purification facility and connected well is planned for the fourth quarter, according to an operations update.

North American Helium Incorporated plans to develop these production wells, aiming to achieve annual exports exceeding $500m by 2030. The company also intends to establish up to 15 purification and refrigeration facilities in Saskatchewan during this period.

The journey towards this ambitious goal began in 2021 when Saskatchewan released its Helium Action Plan: From Exploration to Exports. Since then, North American Helium completed drilling operations of a joint well near Mankota last November. The construction of the necessary infrastructure is progressing steadily, with the completion of the wellsite metering facilities and pipeline infrastructure anticipated shortly.

With these developments, Saskatchewan is poised to become a major player in the global helium market, contributing significantly to the province's economy and the industry as a whole.