Helium Scarcity

Helium scarcity refers to the increasing global deficit in the supply of helium (He), the second lightest and second most abundant element in the universe but extremely rare on Earth. Helium is produced primarily as a byproduct of natural gas extraction and cannot be synthesised or recycled economically. Once released into the atmosphere, it escapes into space permanently. The finite nature of helium reserves, concentrated in a few countries, combined with rising demand from MRI machines, semiconductor fabrication, space launch systems, and quantum computing, has created a strategic supply crisis.

• 1 Helium is non-renewable on human timescales — formed by radioactive decay of uranium and thorium deep underground over millions of years
• 2 Global helium production is approximately 160 million cubic metres per year; the US, Qatar, and Algeria account for over 75% of supply
• 3 The US Federal Helium Reserve near Amarillo, Texas was the world's largest stockpile — its privatisation and drawdown contributed to price spikes
• 4 Qatar's RasGas (now QatarEnergy) helium plant is the world's largest single source, producing about 25% of global supply
• 5 Critical uses include MRI scanners (liquid helium cools superconducting magnets to 4.2 K), semiconductor manufacturing, fibre optics, rocket propulsion, and leak detection
• 6 India's Rajmahal volcanic province in Jharkhand has shown potential helium reserves — CSIR-NGRI and the Atomic Minerals Directorate are exploring domestic sources
• 7 There is no substitute for helium in cryogenic applications below 15 K — making it truly irreplaceable for MRI and quantum computing

During the global Helium Shortage 4.0 (2022-23), several Indian hospitals reported disruptions in MRI services as liquid helium prices surged by over 50%, highlighting India's complete import dependence for a gas critical to healthcare diagnostics.