QatarEnergy seals major helium export deal with Germany’s Messer

QatarEnergy has signed a long-term contract with Messer to supply 100 million cubic feet of helium per year, strengthening Doha’s position as a key player in this strategic market.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

QatarEnergy has signed a direct sales agreement with German industrial gases company Messer for the annual supply of 100 million cubic feet of high-purity helium. This contract marks the first direct cooperation between the two entities and represents a strategic step for Qatar’s helium export capabilities.

Production capacity concentrated in Ras Laffan

The helium supplied under this agreement will come from QatarEnergy’s facilities in Ras Laffan, located on the country’s northeastern coast. These facilities tap into the North Field gas reservoir, which QatarEnergy estimates can meet global helium demand for the next 30 years. When both plants are operating at full capacity, the state-owned company expects to supply approximately 25% of the world’s total helium output.

A tightening market facing rising demand

Helium is a rare gas used in a growing range of industrial and technological applications, including magnetic resonance imaging scanners, quantum computing, semiconductors, fibre optics and space exploration. According to a 2024 study by research firm IDTechEx, global demand could exceed 322 million cubic metres by 2035 due to its cryogenic and inert properties.

A strategic supplier for European industry

Messer, the world’s largest privately held producer of industrial gases, is strengthening its supply chain by securing long-term access to a critical resource for European industry. The agreement comes amid increased efforts to secure strategic resources, following recent volatility in energy markets.

QatarEnergy, which has ramped up investment in liquefaction and gas treatment infrastructure, continues to diversify its marketing channels beyond liquefied natural gas (LNG), consolidating its position in high-value segments.

Shell UK has started production at the Victory field north of Shetland, integrating its volumes into the national gas network through existing infrastructure to strengthen UK supply.
Exxon is seeking direct support from the Mozambican government to secure its Rovuma LNG project, as Islamist violence continues to hinder investment in the country’s north.
Chevron has signed a $690 million agreement with Equatorial Guinea to develop gas from the Aseng field, amid a long-term decline in national oil production and a search for new economic drivers.
TotalEnergies has set 2029 as the restart date for its Mozambique LNG project, frozen since 2021, delaying the exploitation of a strategic investment worth more than $20bn in liquefied natural gas.
The establishment of a dedicated entity marks a new phase for the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline, with tenders and the final investment decision expected by the end of 2025.
The European ban on Russian liquefied natural gas from 2027 is pushing Siberian producers to reorient their flows to Asia, despite logistical and regulatory constraints.
Caturus Energy has signed a multi-year contract with Nabors Industries to deploy a next-generation onshore rig, aimed at supporting the expansion of its gas output in the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk formations in Texas.
Trinity Gas Storage partners with Intercontinental Exchange to open two new trading points at its Bethel site, strengthening East Texas’s strategic appeal in the U.S. gas market.
Warsaw has filled its natural gas storage capacity to the legal maximum, marking the highest level in the European Union as regulatory discussions on energy security intensify in Brussels.
Sempra divests a majority stake in Sempra Infrastructure Partners to a consortium led by KKR for $10bn, valuing the entity at $31.7bn, while launching phase 2 of the Port Arthur LNG terminal for $14bn.
A new three-year gas import agreement will be signed between Belgrade and Moscow, as Serbia’s energy ties face growing diplomatic scrutiny from the West.
The Sri Lankan government has frozen its plan to import liquefied natural gas from India due to a lack of operational storage, delaying the initial timeline by three years and affecting bilateral energy strategies.
European Union gas reserves reach 89.8 bcm, or 81.6% of capacity, just weeks ahead of the European Commission’s deadline to hit 90%.
BW Offshore reached First Gas on the BW Opal FPSO for the Barossa project operated by Santos, triggering 60% of the contractual dayrate and opening the operating phase under a long-term charter.
The European Commission proposes bringing forward by one year the ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, as part of a new sanctions package backed by Washington.
The Cedar LNG project, 50.1% controlled by the Haisla Nation, marks a first in the global gas industry, supported by a record C$1,4bn ($1,03bn) loan.
Natural gas executives report delays due to turbines, steel and legal risk, even as federal approval timelines improve.
The European Commission is preparing a new sanctions package including an accelerated ban on Russian liquefied natural gas, with negotiations already underway among member states.
H2G Green Limited’s subsidiary completed the conversion of an industrial site from diesel to liquefied natural gas, marking a shift in local manufacturing energy demand.
Russian producer Novatek rerouted part of its gas condensate output to the port of Novorossiisk, following a temporary shutdown at its Ust-Luga complex after a drone attack caused a fire.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.

[wc_register_modal]