ASP Isotopes Reports Stable Liquid Helium Production in South Africa

ASP Isotopes Inc. said Monday its South African project had achieved stable liquid helium production, advancing toward initial deliveries days after the U.S. designated helium a critical material.

At the Virginia Gas Project in South Africa’s Free State province, Tetra4 Proprietary Limited completed commissioning. Helium is accumulating in cryogenic storage ahead of deliveries under existing offtake agreements, while ASP Isotopes finalizes delivery logistics. The company gave no revised shipment date.

ASP Isotopes posted its announcement at 8 a.m. ET (12:00 UTC) on Oct. 26. An Aug. 20 update had projected first commercial helium shipments during September; the latest announcement said initial deliveries were still ahead.

Phase 1 is expected to produce about 2,500 GJ of liquefied natural gas per day and 70 Mcf of liquid helium per day. These are company estimates, not reported current production rates. ASP Isotopes expects the project to reach nameplate capacity in the fourth quarter of 2026.

“We are now ramping towards nameplate capacity,” said Paul Mann, ASP Isotopes’ executive chairman and CEO.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designated helium a critical material on Oct. 23, identifying its role in semiconductor manufacturing and exposure to supply-chain risks.