China Achieves Groundbreaking Helium Gas Breakthrough: 4.07B Cubic Meters Added to National Reserves

Historic Shift in Helium Exploration

China has transformed its decades-long reliance on imported helium gas—often dubbed “golden gas”—through revolutionary advancements in helium exploration. Marking World Earth Day (April 22), a date symbolic for celebrating scientific discovery, this milestone highlights China’s strategic triumph in overcoming its historical “helium scarcity” amid intensifying global competition in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

According to data from the China Geological Survey under the Ministry of Natural Resources, the country’s helium demand had long outpaced domestic supply, with import dependency nearing 100%. Recent geopolitical shifts and technological race have accelerated efforts to unlock domestic helium reserves, positioning this achievement as a cornerstone of China’s national mineral resource strategy.

Strategic Reserves Across Key Basins

China has now confirmed 4.07 billion cubic meters of newly verified helium reserves, with six major gas fields leading the charge:

• Sulige: Over 200 million cubic meters

• Fuling: Over 200 million cubic meters

• Jingbian: Over 200 million cubic meters

• Anyue: Over 200 million cubic meters

• Dongsheng: Over 200 million cubic meters

• Luzhou: Over 200 million cubic meters

These discoveries solidify China’s position as a growing player in the global helium gas market.

The “Golden Gas” Powering Innovation

Despite constituting just 0.000524% of Earth’s atmosphere, helium gas boasts unparalleled value due to its unique properties as a non-metallic, inert element. Dubbed “golden gas,” it serves critical roles in:

✅ Fourth-generation nuclear reactors: Essential coolant for advanced energy systems

✅ Aerospace & semiconductor manufacturing: Enables precision engineering

✅ Quantum computing: Vital for ultra-low temperature environments

Its irreplaceability in high-tech industries underscores why helium gas remains a geopolitically strategic resource.

Balancing Progress & Sustainability

As China celebrates this leap in helium self-sufficiency, World Earth Day serves as a timely reminder to align resource development with sustainable practices. With global helium demand rising, this breakthrough not only reshapes supply chains but also fuels innovation in cutting-edge technologies—proving that even the rarest elements can drive monumental change.