BOC said it would build a $35m liquid helium plant – the southern hemisphere’s first such facility – and would produce 150 containers worth $20 million a year for use in Australia and export to Asia. This would comprise between 2 and 3% of the world's helium demand.
The company said it has lodged a notice of intent with the Northern Territory government.
If the project is approved, construction will begin next year and the plant will be operational in 2007.
Darwin LNG's plant, which is expected to produce 3.1 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas a year when it begins operating in early 2006, is now under construction.
Darwin LNG's owners include: ConocoPhillips, ENI, Santos, INPEX, Tokyo Electric and Tokyo Gas.
Liquid helium is the coldest-known substance. It is used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment in hospitals, in the space and defence industries and by deep sea divers in a mixture with oxygen.
