Poland Holds EU's Only Significant Helium Reserve Amid Global Shortage

The European Union has identified helium as one of its critical raw materials due to its significant industrial importance and vulnerability to supply chain disruptions.

Currently, 40% of EU helium is imported from Qatar, but shipments have been disrupted by the Middle East conflict. Russian helium imports are also banned under sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.

Poland is the only significant helium producer in the EU, covering around 7-8% of its consumption. The country's natural gas fields generally contain less than 0.4% helium, but Poland has made it mandatory for operators to evaluate helium resources if concentrations exceed 0.2 vol.%.

This policy has led to the assessment of 17 gas fields, resulting in a combined contingent helium volume of 24 Mm3. However, 76% of Polish helium is produced from fields with less than 0.2% helium due to denitrification processes that also capture helium.