Construction commenced today on Australia’s first helium plant, to be operated by The Linde Group’s BOC in Darwin, during a ground-breaking ceremony with the Northern Territory Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Delia Lawrie MLA.
The project is intended to have the capacity to meet the entire nation’s helium needs and also supply export markets, crucial if the current global helium shortage is a sign of things to come. It will also see the city of Darwin become something of an energy or gas hub, complementing the current LNG plant already in production at Wickham Point.
Northern Territory Treasurer and Infrastructure Minister, Delia Lawrie, said the new plant will make the Territory (NT) the nation’s leader in helium production and explained, “This is part of the Northern Territory Government’s push to diversify and strengthen our economy and develop a major gas hub in the NT. This will create more jobs and increase investment in our local economy.”
The well documented world helium shortage has caused a ripple effect concerning supply and demand in recent months, but new plants and projects such as the development at Darwin all contribute to gradually allaying these fears.
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