Following the previous report on the Tanzanian helium, it was reported by the gasworld of our partner that Helium One of the Norwegian helium developing firm leading the survey is now focusing on the investigation of three major resource areas of Rukwa, Eyashi and Balangida.　

According to the British journal’s report dispatched on the Internet on June 1, two geologists and founders of Helium One wrote in a book titled “Tanzania Natural Resources for Industrial use” issued in November 2013 that there were seven deposit areas of high-purity helium ranging from 4.4% to 18.2%. Dating back to 1957 after then, the journal obtained six reports as to the Tanzanian reserve of helium. After recognizing the current situation and deposit locations of helium, they established Helium One to start investigations.

The places of Tanzanian helium reserve are located in the hot spring areas of the Great Rift Valley. It is believed that the helium which deposited deep underground for quite a long period was released out as the rocks produced in the Precambrian age was heated.

The noticeable feature of Tanzanian helium source, unlike the other sources, is that no hydrocarbon like natural gas is contained. Its main ingredient is nitrogen followed by helium and argon. It facilitates to set up an independent project in mining of helium. Furthermore, helium can be treated at a high level because of no hydrocarbon, and contributes to a substantial saving of costs and environmental load compared with the past.

In Tanzania there are so many places having helium deposits. Helium One applied for survey/mining license as to the places where helium of commercial grade is deposited underground, and has been granted for an exclusive right at 20 places. 　

Among the survey projects the Rukwa Project is most advanced. Rukwa is positioned in the southern part of Tanzania and located close to Mbeya of the major city which connects the inland with Port of Dar es Salaam. Most probably Rukwa was the deposit place of 54.2 billion standard cubic feet which was referred to in Yokohama as we reported in the previous edition. 　

On the other hand, survey activities for Eyashi and Balangida will start on a full scale from the latter half of this year, either of which seems to have high helium content of 6% at maximum. After investigating elaborately these three resources including Rukwa and taking comparative data for research, Helium One will decide whether or not to start their mining project.