How do you see the current global helium shortage progressing – will there be any improvement in 2020 and why?
Jeff Vogt, Weil Group Resources CEO: We think there is a market consensus that the supply chain for helium will remain brittle for some time, even with new volumes projected to come on stream in the likes of Qatar and Russia. The BLM ‘wind-down’ will certainly have a significant impact, and the manner in which the government disposes of these assets will be interesting; whether oligopoly interests prevail, or the little guy can help. Geopolitical security is a concern. Demand continues to increase; new technology applications continue to emerge. We see this demand/supply gap continuing, and we see an inefficient, oligopolistic market. Weil, if only in a small way, intends to be a good and reliable actor and restore fairness and viable supply through its drilling, processing, purification, liquefaction and transport – full value chain – logistics.
Andrew Davidson, Royal Helium CEO: We do not see a reversal in the supply demand matrix in the next 12 months. The known projects in Russia and Qatar will certainly bring more supply to the market, once they come online, but will do very little in easing North American shortages and, of course, currently carry a significant amount of risk and uncertainty. We are working to be in a position to fill that supply gap on the North American side.
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