Because the raw material comes from the waste of LNG plant, the cost is "very competitive" compared with the import, and it can be widely promoted to defend the national helium strategic security. The United States is the largest helium resource country in the world, accounting for 40% of the world resources.
At present, nearly 95% of helium in China is imported. In recent years, although helium directly from the United States has decreased (about 25%), most of the production equipment in Qatar, Australia and other importing places is owned or controlled by the United States.
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According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post reported on July 28th, 2020, China recently opened its first large-scale helium plant in Yanchi County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Although the new plant and new equipment can only meet a small amount of demand at present, the construction cost of this kind of helium plant is relatively low and can be widely promoted in the future.
For a long time, the manufacture of high-tech products is inseparable from rare gases. Almost all rare gases, including helium, mostly come from other countries in the world, mainly the United States.
A scientist in China said that the completion of the first large-scale helium plant means that China is one step closer to reducing or even getting rid of its dependence on imported helium in the process of manufacturing high-tech products.