Today, at Gazprom’s Headquarters, Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee convened a meeting dedicated to the development of multicomponent hydrocarbon fields in Eastern Siberia and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

The meeting was attended by top managers and specialists of Gazprom’s Administration, Orenburggazprom, VNIIGAZ and Promgaz as well as representatives of the Russian Academy of Sciences and major companies of the Russian helium industry, including NPO Geliymash, LENNIICHIMMASH Ltd, Cryogenmash and Chemgasservice.

The meeting heard reports on the global helium market, Russian helium industry expansion prospects and development strategies for multicomponent hydrocarbon fields in eastern Russia.

The reporters emphasized that gas fields in Eastern Siberia and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) contained commercial helium reserves of the global significance. As stipulated by the Russia’s Energy Strategy up to 2020, developing said fields would help Russia become one of the world’s biggest producers & suppliers of helium and its derivatives.

The participants expressed a common opinion that there was a need for the state regulation of issues related to the Russian helium industry development.

At the end of the meeting the parties decided to create a working group to be responsible for building a development strategy for multicomponent hydrocarbon fields.

“The East Siberian and Far Eastern fields are rich in helium, ethane and other valuable components. The state should prioritize making maximally efficient use of said fields potential by boosting output of value added products. By ensuring assiduous application of strategic raw materials, we will not only gasify the country’s eastern regions but also set the stage for developing the helium & gas chemicals industry and enhancing our export opportunities,” said Alexander Ananenkov.

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Helium is a unique product widely used in various industry branches (including the aircraft, rocket & space, electronic and nuclear industries, medicine, basic and applied sciences) identifying the economic, intellectual and military potential of any country.

With the total global helium reserves valued at 27.8 bcm, Russia’s helium resources account for about 10 bcm.

At present, the worldwide helium production averages 140 MMcm per year, with the lead taken by the USA accounting for 70 per cent of the total. Helium is also produced by Algeria, Qatar as well as in smaller quantities by Russia, Poland and Austria.

By 2030 Russia may become the world’s leading helium producer supplying more than 50 per cent of the global demand.

The largest consumers of helium are currently the USA, Europe and Asia Pacific accounting for 60, 22 and 15 per cent of the worldwide consumption, respectively. According to forecasts, within the nearest 25 years the global demand for helium will be on an average 4-6 per cent rise year on year. By 2030 overall annual consumption of helium will reach 300 MMcm on a global scale, with the US, Europe and Asia Pacific projected to consume 45 per cent (down), 15 per cent (down) and 30 per cent (up), respectively.

Nowadays helium consumption in Russia averages 1 MMcm per year and is expected to grow to 7 MMcm by 2030.