US Adds Helium to Critical Materials List Over Semiconductor Supply Risks
· Technology · The Independent, Euronews, The Hindu
The US Department of Energy designated helium as a critical material on Friday, citing its essential role in semiconductor manufacturing and a high risk of global supply disruption. The listing unlocks additional federal financing for domestic helium producers and closer government monitoring. The US is the world's largest helium producer, while Qatar and Russia are other top suppliers; Qatari exports have been curtailed by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian strikes, and Russia imposed temporary export controls in April. Helium's unique properties — non-combustible with the lowest boiling point of any gas — make it irreplaceable for semiconductors, quantum and supercomputing, superconducting magnets, medical imaging and energy production.
Why it matters
The designation aims to secure domestic supply chains for semiconductors and advanced computing, reducing reliance on foreign helium amid geopolitical disruptions in the Middle East and Russia.
Read the original report — The Independent
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