Helium One Global, the primary helium explorer in Tanzania with a 50% working interest in the Galactica-Pegasus helium development project in Colorado, USA, has provided an update on its southern Rukwa Helium project in Tanzania.
Highlights
- The Company has formally accepted the offer of a Mining Licence ("ML") for the southern Rukwa Helium Project as issued by the Mining Commission ("MC") in Tanzania
- The area granted by the Mineral Right is the entire 480km2 that was applied for in September 2024, and covers the southern Rukwa Helium province in the Momba, Sumbawanga Urban Districts in the southern Rukwa Basin
- The National Environment Management Council ("NEMC") and Ministry of Environment in Tanzania have also completed their review of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") that was filed as part of the ML application, and the ESIA has been approved and an Environmental Impact Certificate ("EI Certificate") has now been issued to the Company
- Pursuant to acceptance of the offer, the Company has also paid the first annual license fee and anticipates the formalities of the award to be completed shortly
- The next steps will be the formal award of the ML, and the completion and execution of Regulatory Framework Agreements
Lorna Blaisse, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
'We are very pleased to have accepted this offer of the first helium ML in Tanzania and we look forward to further appraising and developing this project. The Company acknowledges the effort of the MC that has gone into reviewing and analysing the ML application and their understanding that has resulted in an ML that is significantly larger than one normally issued for a standard mineral project in order to accommodate the helium play that extends over a larger fractured and faulted sub-surface area. Following a formal award, the Company will continue the planning stage for moving this project forward towards development.
It is a huge achievement for the Company to have progressed from flowing first helium to surface in August 2024 (following the extended well test at Itumbula West-1), to receipt of a ML in just over six months. This reflects the dedicated team we have in place, as well as the established relationships we have in-country, and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Mining Commission and the Ministry of Minerals for their continued support.'
Details
Further to the Notification of the Grant of a Mineral Right that was made by the MC at the end of February 2025 and announced by the Company on 3 March 2024, the Company has now formally accepted the offer and, pursuant to relevant legislation, has also paid in advance the licence fee for the first 12 months.
NEMC have also completed their review of the ESIA report that formed part of the ML application and have now formally awarded the Company with an EI Certificate.
The next step in this process will be the formal award of the ML, and the completion and execution of Regulatory Framework Agreements. These are the agreements and documents that govern the establishment of a joint venture company, to be owned by both the Company and the Government of Tanzania, that will develop the southern Rukwa Helium project.
The Company will make further announcements as this process continues.
Source: Helium One Global
