Hangzhou Sino-Thai Cryogenics Technology Co., Ltd. and Suzhou RefineTek Gas Technology Co., Ltd. have signed a procurement contract with Shanxi Fengsheng Energy Technology Co., Ltd. for an LNG BOG He/H₂ extraction system. RefineTek is responsible for the design, manufacturing, and commissioning of the LNG BOG helium extraction unit. The LNG plant processes 3 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, and BOG-based helium extraction is expected to deliver an annual helium output of roughly 400,000 cubic meters — about 1.4% of China’s current annual helium demand.
RefineTek’s independently developed LNG BOG helium extraction unit combines membrane separation and PSA, built on hydrogen-absorbing alloys, to achieve near-perfect separation of hydrogen and helium — yielding two high-purity gas products.
As a new entrant in China’s LNG BOG helium extraction sector, RefineTek has already earned customer recognition for its compact, safe, stable, efficient, high-standard, and cost-effective systems. To date, RefineTek has signed contracts for five LNG BOG helium extraction systems, with stable product quality meeting the national standard for 6N ultra-pure helium.
Helium is an indispensable gas for advanced industry, scientific research, healthcare, defense, and traditional manufacturing, and is a strategic reserve resource. Domestic helium production has multiple implications for China:
1. Reducing reliance on imports: China’s demand for helium is enormous, yet import dependence remains around 90%. Raising the level of domestic helium production would reduce reliance on external suppliers and lower the risk from supply disruptions or price volatility.
2. Improving resource utilization: China’s proven helium reserves are concentrated mainly in the Ordos Basin, Tarim Basin, Weihe Basin, and the Changqing gas field, among others. If efficient, low-cost extraction technology for helium-lean natural gas can be developed, these resources could be put to use and meet more than 40% of China’s demand.
3. Securing the supply of strategic resources: Helium is a strategic resource tied to national security and the economic lifeline. It plays an irreplaceable role in many fields, including semiconductors, LCD displays, and fiber optics in advanced equipment manufacturing, medical MRI and cryogenic superconducting equipment, airtightness testing for high-end equipment, and superfluid material preparation. Domestic helium production would help ensure the stable development of these fields.
4. Driving technological innovation: The process of domesticating helium production is itself a process of technological innovation. These innovations can not only advance the helium industry but may also drive progress in related fields.
