The $33 million facility would be the first in the Southern Hemisphere. The plant would produce approximately 896 tonnes of liquid helium per year, extracted from the LNG plant’s waste gas stream, supplying 2-3% of the world’s helium demand.

BOC’s Area General Manager of Industrial and Special Products, David Hatcher, said that although the plant is relatively small, the benefits of the project would include 15-20 jobs during construction, with the company maximising local employment and contracts, as well as the potential for extra shipping through East Arm Port.

“Sources of helium are very rare. The opportunity to extract helium from Darwin LNG’s vent stream will allow Australia to produce the helium it needs for the first time, instead of having to rely on imports from the Unites States,” Mr Hatcher said.

Helium is the safest industrial gas; being colourless, tasteless, non-toxic, non-flammable, chemically inert and used in many industrial applications.

BOC has lodged a Notice of Intent with the NT Office of Environmental Heritage. The proposal will now undergo an approval process, including public consultation. Upon approval, construction is expected to begin next year. The helium plant is expeced to employ nine staff when it becomes fully operational in mid-2007.