Canada's Largest Helium Purification Facility Opens in Southwest Saskatchewan

CANADA, October 15 - Released on October 15, 2026

Canada's largest helium purification facility has begun operating in southwest Saskatchewan, strengthening the province's position as the nation's largest producer of helium. 

The new facility, located near Stewart Valley, will produce approximately 73 million cubic feet of helium per year. This additional production will increase Saskatchewan's annual output by more than 40 per cent. Helium is used in important industrial processes in the medical, defence, space exploration and advanced manufacturing sectors.

"We are pleased to see the scale of investment North American Helium has made in southern Saskatchewan, particularly in the southwest, over the last number of years," Energy and Resources Minister Chris Beaudry said. "Facilities like this will be crucial to helping Saskatchewan reach 10 per cent of the global helium supply by 2030, following through on the commitments outlined in our government's Helium Action Plan."

North American Helium is Saskatchewan's largest helium producer. The company has invested approximately $700 million and drilled over 120 wells in Saskatchewan over the last decade. Saskatchewan produces over 95 per cent of all helium supply in Canada and North American Helium has played a key role in establishing the province as the primary helium hub in the country. 

"Helium is a critical input to industrial processes which cannot pause operations and we are doing our part by bringing on new reliable production to a volatile market plagued by repeated global shortages," North American Helium Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Snyder said. "Support from the Saskatchewan Government in the form of the Helium Action Plan and associated incentives, make the province a premier destination for new investment in helium exploration and development."

The Government of Saskatchewan continues to advocate for changes to the federal tax system that will encourage private investment and support the growth of Saskatchewan's helium industry. These changes will place helium on a level playing field when compared to other critical minerals in Canada and help create the conditions to bring Canada's first commercial-scale helium liquefaction facility to Saskatchewan. A liquefaction facility in Saskatchewan would secure an entirely domestic supply chain of helium within the country, creating a new export sector to serve global partners.

In response to growing industry demand, the Ministry of Energy and Resources launched the first-ever Crown Public Offering for Helium and Associated Gases earlier this year. The process creates a fair, transparent and competitive system for awarding crown rights while increasing investment opportunities in the sector. In 2024, the Ministry launched the Critical Minerals Processing Investment Incentive (CMPII) and Saskatchewan Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive (SCMII) to provide financial support for developing critical minerals projects, including helium. 

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