Global Helium Supply and Helium Supply Safety for China

As a rare gas resource, helium is commonly used in defence, medicine, superconductivity and other high-tech fields. It plays a significant role in national security and technological development. This paper compares helium distribution, production, demand, and consumption at home and abroad over the past ten years based on extensive literature and research data. The study shows that the global helium distribution is uneven, with concentrations in the USA, Qatar, Algeria, Russia and Poland. Although helium is widely distributed in China, the total reserves are only 11x108m3, accounting for 2.3% of the world. China’s self-developed helium extraction equipment has low efficiency and low output. With countries’ economic and technological development, the helium demand is increasing, and the global helium supply has become tighter, with a clear upward price trend. China’s helium import cost and investment significantly increased. As an essential helium-using country, China’s annual average helium resource use accounts for 14% of the global annual production. Now helium in China is highly dependent on imports, and its external dependence exceeds 97%, which poses unstable factors to China’s helium supply safety. Given the above domestic and international situation, the recommendations put forward in this paper provide valuable references for ensuring helium safety in China. China should accelerate the survey of the helium content of existing large and medium-sized natural gas fields and strengthen the exploration, development and protection of helium-bearing natural gas reservoirs. At the same time, China should continue developing its high-efficiency and low-cost helium extraction technologies and BOG low-temperature helium extraction units. In addition, China should pay close attention to international helium prices and keep abreast of the market situation.