Helium is not just a rare gas, but a strategic resource that determines leadership in high technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology. Its irreplaceability in cryogenics, microchip production and quantum computing makes control over its reserves a matter of global power.
The global helium market, once dominated by the US, is bursting at the seams: Russia is betting on the Amur GPP, which could turn the game around, and Ukraine, despite the shutdown of the Odessa company Cryion due to the war, has a chance to break into this fight thanks to the potential of the Dnieper-Donets Basin (DDB) and other producers that need to be developed urgently.
It’s time to wake up — helium is becoming the new oil of the digital age, and Ukraine cannot stand aside.
Helium was discovered in 1868 through the spectrum of sunlight, and on Earth it was discovered in 1895. It is the second lightest element, chemically inert, with a boiling point of -268.9°C. It is formed slowly, through the alpha decay of uranium and thorium in the Earth’s crust, accumulating with natural gas. Extraction is possible only from deposits with a helium concentration above 0.3%. This dependence on gas production makes it rare and vulnerable. Helium cannot be synthesized economically, and in key applications, such as cryogenic cooling, there are no substitutes.
Helium keeps the high-tech world going. It cools superconducting MRI magnets, without which medicine would grind to a halt. In space, it ensures the safety of rocket engines. In electronics, it creates an inert atmosphere for the microchips that power the digital economy. In metallurgy, it protects refractory metals during welding.
Its uniqueness makes helium a bottleneck in global supply chains, where control over sources equals power.
Helium keeps the high-tech world running. It cools superconducting MRI magnets, without which medicine would grind to a halt. In space, it keeps rocket engines safe. In electronics, it creates an inert atmosphere for the microchips that power the digital economy. In metallurgy, it protects refractory metals during welding. Its uniqueness makes helium a bottleneck in global supply chains, where control over sources equals power.
Nanotechnology is taking helium to the next level. The scanning helium ion microscope (SHIML) can see structures as small as 0.25 nanometers, surpassing electron microscopes. Its ion beam provides the sharpness without damaging samples that is critical for biology and electronics. SHIBL technology creates nanostructures for the microchips that power AI and quantum computers. Helium cools superconducting systems for high-performance computing. Without it, digital progress will stall, and countries without helium will be left on the sidelines.
The geopolitical battle for helium is heating up. The US, having lost the Federal Helium Reserve in 2024 through the sale to a company with Chinese ties, has weakened its position. The reserve provided 9% of global demand, and its privatization opened the door to chaos. Russia is challenging the Amur GPP, which by 2025 could produce 60 million m³ of helium annually — a third of the global market.
The plant relies on rich deposits in Eastern Siberia, but disruptions, sanctions, and dependence on China make it vulnerable. China, which absorbs helium for microchips, imports 95% of its needs, but is exploring its own deposits (1.1–4.7 billion m³) and building a strategic reserve. Qatar, the second-largest producer, and Algeria hold the market, but regional crises could ruin everything.
Ukraine has a unique opportunity, but the clock is ticking. The Odesa-based Cryion company was a key player by 2022, processing up to 5 million m³ of helium per year for MRIs, microchips, and research in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Its technology powered high-tech industries, but the war halted operations in Ukraine.
Cryion’s potential is a trump card that needs to be played immediately. In addition to Cryion, there are smaller manufacturers in Ukraine that specialize in cryogenic equipment and industrial gases. These companies, although less well-known, have experience and technologies that can be scaled up for helium production. Their development is not just an economic necessity, but a matter of national security, because without investment they will remain in the shadows, and Ukraine will lose opportunities.
Geologically promising DDZ may hide helium at depths of more than 4,500 m. Studies by the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences record anomalies that indicate deep reserves. Historically, shallow DDZ deposits are poor in helium (0.055%), but the deep crystalline foundation, rich in uranium and thorium, gives hope. Ukraine holds a “geological lottery ticket”, but without exploration it is useless.
Helium and AI are two sides of the same coin. AI microchips require helium for manufacturing and cooling. Data centers depend on cryogenic systems. Controlling helium is controlling the digital future. The New Era Helium project in Texas, which combines helium mining, energy, and a data center for AI, shows how resources shape technological advantage. Without helium, there are no chips, and without chips, there is no AI. This is a new game where helium is the key to winning.
The future of helium is a powder keg. If the Amur GPP stops due to sanctions or accidents, the world will face a “Helium Crisis 5.0.” Prices will soar, and high-tech production will slow down. China will absorb Russian helium, increasing tensions. New sources like Tanzania or Canada will not come to the rescue quickly. Europe needs a reliable supplier, and Ukraine can be it.
Ukraine must act quickly. The first step is to invest in the exploration of the DDZ, using the expertise of the Institute of Geology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Russian Federation and Western financing. Existing producers like Cryion and others need to be scaled up urgently through government support and international partnerships. If deep deposits are confirmed, attract companies from the US or EU to drill to 5,000 m+. Next — infrastructure: helium extraction and purification plants through public-private partnerships. Success will make Ukraine a supplier for Europe, reducing dependence on Russia and bringing billions in export revenues.
Helium is not a gas, but a ticket to the digital future. Ukraine has the technology, producers and geological potential, but delay is a defeat. We need to drill deeper, invest in science and develop other players immediately.
Otherwise, we will be left behind when the world shares the power resource.
