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Helium, Ras Laffan, Qatar
Ras Laffan, Qatar25.90°N 51.53°E
computed criticality30/100
reading
≈25-33% of world helium supply from a single complex
2024Fault line
A by-product of LNG, Qatari helium accounts for between a quarter and a third of world supply, concentrated in the single Ras Laffan complex. Its 2021-2022 maintenance shutdowns sent prices up more than 50%, and the end of US Federal Reserve sales in 2023 removed the historic shock absorber. MRI, space launchers and semiconductor manufacturing have no substitute.
Actors
QatarEnergy (Ras Laffan)
Air Liquide / Linde (distribution)
Depends on 1
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