DOE Designates Helium a Critical Material as Qatar Supply Falters
DOE's Oct 23 helium designation brings more federal financing for producers, AP reports, but DOE gave no amount. The US made 43% of world supply as Qatar exports were curtailed.
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Helium is the 20th material on DOE's critical materials list, AP reports; the US produced 43% of global supply in 2025.
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The U.S. Department of Energy on Oct 23 designated helium a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020, a step Secretary Chris Wright tied to semiconductor manufacturing and supply-chain security.
DOE said helium meets the statutory definition because of its role in American manufacturing and growing exposure to supply risks. It said helium has no viable substitutes in many critical chip applications. The department also said global demand is growing faster than production, and that limited refining capacity and long permitting timelines constrain U.S. output despite large domestic helium-rich gas deposits.
According to the Associated Press, the designation means more federal financing will be available to helium producers and that the government will monitor the material more closely. DOE's release does not state a dollar amount, a program name or a date for any funding, so the size of that support is not yet known.
The designation is an administrative finding by DOE, not a new law or a tariff. AP reports that to make DOE's list, a non-fuel substance must serve an essential function in energy technologies and face a high risk of supply disruption. Helium is the 20th material on the list. Metallurgical coal was added in 2025, and fluorine is the only other gas. AP also notes that the U.S. Geological Survey listed helium as a critical mineral in 2018 but dropped it from later lists because domestic supply was judged secure.
