QatarEnergy and Air Liquide have signed a long-term sales and purchase agreement (SPA) for the supply of 300mn cubic feet per annum of helium from Qatar.
The agreement marks a new milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two global energy and industrial gas leaders, with Air Liquide being a foundation customer, an important helium off-taker, and a key technology provider for a number of Qatar’s Helium production facilities.
“Air Liquide has been a strategic partner in the helium business since the startup of our first helium plant in 2005. It has been an integral player in providing a reliable supply of high-quality Qatari helium to a number of critical industries around the world,” said HE Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, and the President and CEO of QatarEnergy.
Highlighting QatarEnergy’s pleasure to continue its long-term partnership with Air Liquide as it helps meet the growing demand for helium; he said Qatar is one of the world’s largest helium exporters.
“Our helium capacity is set to more than double with our North Field LNG (liquefied natural gas) expansion projects. This will further support a wide range of sectors and industries that depend on helium to drive human development,” according to him.
Helium plays a pivotal role in a wide range of advanced technologies and essential industrial applications, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, semiconductors, fibre optics, space exploration, deep sea diving, specialised welding, and other specialised applications.