This article complements previous articles and describes the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) declining role in providing helium to worldwide markets. It provides further transparency to the helium industry and the public at large on the plans to offer for sale the Federal Helium Programme real property, and all US interests in the Federal helium reserve located near Amarillo, Texas.
This sales action is driven by the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 (HSA) and is the final step to fully privatising the helium production facilities constructed under the authority of the Helium Act Amendments of 1960, creating the helium conservation programme. By 1st October 2021, the Federal helium operations will cease and the reserve will no longer be managed by the US government. This article updates plans and timelines for sale and transfer of functions to a private entity. The intent of the HSA is to allow for a smooth transition to private helium operations with minimal disruption of the helium industry.
The BLM, an agency of the US Department of the Interior, is a major supplier of crude helium to refiners in the US, which markets pure helium around the world. Managing the nation’s Federal Reserve was a quiet endeavour until shortages in 2006 made news around the world. Shortages happened again in June 2017 with interruptions of the Middle East helium supply lines. The global helium industry is sensitive to disruption of supply lines and shipping delays of bulk liquid helium, and the helium shortage is still ongoing.
... to continue reading you must be subscribed
