Royal Helium Ltd (TSX-V:RHC, OTCQB:RHCCF) held the inauguration of its Steveville helium purification facility on Saturday, 16 December.
Speakers at the event were MLA Brooks-Medicine Hat and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, John Petrie, the Mayor of Brooks and Arno Doerksen, Reeve, Newell County.
Also in attendance were the Federal Member of Parliament Bow River Martin Shields, Assistant Deputy Minister, Energy and Minerals, Mike Simpson and several council members for the city of Brooks and Newell County.
Highlighting the economic benefits of the facility to the County, Province and Canada, Premier Smith delivered a strong speech commending everyone on the significant accomplishment in building the first of its kind plant in the world in Alberta.
"We thank Premier Smith, and all the local officials, dignitaries and members of the community who joined the Royal Helium team in the inauguration and tour of the one-of-a-kind Steveville helium facility,” said Royal Helium chief executive Andrew Davidson.
“The facility, now in operation, is an impressive piece of engineering and provides the lowest carbon footprint amongst any of its peers globally. Royal, while finalizing trailer fill for its first deliveries, is also in discussions for additional offtake commitments for upcoming projects in 2024."
Royal Helium controls over a million acres of prospective helium permits and leases across southern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta.
Royal's helium reservoirs are carried primarily with nitrogen. Nitrogen is not considered a greenhouse gas (GHG) and therefore has a low GHG footprint when compared to other jurisdictions that rely on large scale natural gas production for helium extraction.
Helium extracted from wells in Saskatchewan and Alberta can be up to 90% less carbon intensive than helium extraction processes in other jurisdictions.