By Ajong Mbapndah L
Few industrial gases have become as strategically important to the global economy as helium. Essential for semiconductor manufacturing, MRI scanners, aerospace applications, quantum computing, fibre optics and an expanding range of advanced technologies, helium has rapidly moved from being a niche commodity to a critical mineral attracting growing geopolitical and commercial attention. As governments and industries search for secure, diversified supplies beyond traditional producers, Africa is increasingly emerging as part of the solution, with Tanzania positioning itself at the forefront of this new frontier.
At the centre of that story is Rift Helium, whose exploration programme in Tanzania’s Rukwa Basin has gathered significant momentum since the company’s successful public listing earlier this year. Over recent months, the company has advanced environmental approvals, completed operational preparations for one of the basin’s most ambitious 3D seismic programmes and continued building relationships with government and local communities, all while preparing for an initial drilling campaign targeted for the first half of 2027.
The timing could hardly be more significant. Tanzania’s decision to classify helium as a strategic mineral reflects growing recognition of the resource’s economic and geopolitical importance. Industry observers increasingly view the country as one of the world’s most promising new sources of high-purity helium at a time when global demand continues to rise across multiple high-technology industries.
For Rift Helium, the opportunity extends beyond exploration. The company sees Tanzania as a long-term strategic partner capable of supporting new investment, creating skilled employment, strengthening local supply chains and helping diversify the country’s mineral economy while supplying rapidly expanding international markets.
In this exclusive interview with Pan African Visions, Charles FitzRoy, Chief Executive Officer of Rift Helium, discusses the company’s progress since listing, the geological promise of the Upepo Project, preparations for drilling, Tanzania’s investment climate, community partnerships, environmental stewardship and his vision for positioning the country among the world’s leading producers of sustainably sourced helium.
What have been the most significant developments at Rift Helium and the Upepo Project since the company’s listing? How do you assess the progress made so far?
Charles FitzRoy: We have made extremely strong progress since our listing, and everything is moving in line with our exploration strategy. Our immediate priority has been completing the Environmental Impact Assessment, which is now in its final stages. Once that process is completed later this quarter, we will commence our large-scale 3D seismic programme.
Everything we have done over the past few months has been focused on ensuring seismic acquisition begins on schedule. Our Chief Operating Officer recently visited Tanzania to finalise operational preparations and confirm that all logistics are in place.
The seismic programme is particularly important because it will provide the geological information required to identify our drilling locations for next year while enabling us to update our resource estimates early next year. Another exciting aspect is that the survey should allow us to determine whether gas caps exist within our structures. If confirmed, that would distinguish Rift Helium from other explorers in the basin because, whereas previous discoveries have largely been associated with groundwater, we believe there may be free gas accumulations within our geological setting.
Very little 3D seismic work has previously been undertaken in this part of the basin, making our programme a significant milestone for helium exploration in Tanzania.
Rift Helium’s initial drilling campaign is planned for the first half of 2027. How confident are you of meeting that timeline?
Charles FitzRoy: We remain confident that we will meet that target. The critical milestone is completing the 3D seismic programme because everything else flows from that work. Once the seismic data has been processed, we will identify drilling locations, refine our resource estimates and move directly into preparations for our first drilling campaign during the first half of next year.
The Rukwa Basin has become one of the world’s most closely watched helium exploration regions. What convinced Rift Helium of the geological and commercial potential of the Upepo Project?
The story really began back in 2015 when helium exploration first gained momentum in Tanzania. Several of the geologists and industry specialists who helped establish Helium One remained strong believers in the geology of this basin and later became involved with Rift Helium.
The project offers several important advantages. First, our helium system is exceptionally pure, consisting almost entirely of helium and nitrogen with no hydrocarbons present. Secondly, our independently assessed prospective resources indicate a very substantial helium inventory. Our P50 prospective resource stands at approximately 19 billion cubic feet of helium, which is significant in the context of global annual demand.
The helium grades are also considerably higher than those typically associated with helium recovered as a by-product of natural gas production elsewhere in the world.
From a commercial perspective, Tanzania also enjoys an excellent geographical position. Around 60 percent of global helium imports are destined for Asia, while Europe represents another major market. Tanzania is therefore ideally positioned to supply these growing international markets.
How would you describe Tanzania’s investment climate for exploration companies? What message would you send to international investors?
Charles FitzRoy: Tanzania has provided a very supportive environment for helium exploration. The government recognises helium as an important strategic resource and has demonstrated its commitment through its support for ongoing exploration activities across the country.
We have enjoyed very constructive engagement with government, including several ministries, while the Environmental Impact Assessment process has progressed extremely well.
The government’s decision to classify helium as a strategic mineral sends a powerful signal that Tanzania understands the long-term economic and geopolitical significance of this resource. Combined with its strategic location and exceptionally pure helium reserves, Tanzania has every opportunity to become one of the world’s leading producers of sustainably sourced helium.
How has Rift Helium engaged with communities surrounding the project area?
Charles FitzRoy: The response from local communities has been extremely encouraging. We have partnered with a local charity, Forward Motion, to establish programmes supporting teenage mothers through vocational training.
Rift Helium will purchase and donate school uniforms produced by programme participants, who are receiving sewing equipment and professional training through these initiatives.
Alongside these programmes, we have maintained continuous engagement with communities throughout the Environmental Impact Assessment process. We have spent considerable time explaining our exploration plans and the relatively small environmental footprint associated with helium exploration.
This has helped local communities understand that helium exploration requires only a modest operational footprint compared with conventional mining activities, while nearby helium operations have existed in the region for many years.
Helium exploration requires significant investment. How well capitalised is Rift Helium to execute its exploration programme?
Charles FitzRoy: We are in a very strong financial position. Our successful Initial Public Offering in April 2026 raised £8 million, providing sufficient funding for this year’s seismic programme as well as next year’s planned drilling campaign.
We also benefit from what I describe as a third-mover advantage. Companies that entered the basin a decade ago established valuable operational knowledge and logistics. Today we understand which drilling techniques work best, supply chains are considerably more developed and operating costs have declined significantly.
These advantages allow us to operate much more efficiently than the early explorers.
Environmental stewardship remains a major priority for investors and host communities. What safeguards has Rift Helium built into its programme?
Charles FitzRoy: Environmental sustainability is central to everything we do. As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment, we have undertaken comprehensive environmental and cultural studies to ensure our activities comply fully with government regulations and community expectations.
One distinctive characteristic of our project is that our helium resources contain no hydrocarbons or methane. As a result, helium exploration has a comparatively low environmental impact.
Helium is also an essential input for technologies such as semiconductors, MRI scanners and numerous advanced manufacturing industries that support the global transition towards cleaner technologies.
If exploration proves successful, what wider benefits could helium development bring to Tanzania?
Charles FitzRoy: The first and most immediate benefit would be increased investment. Helium is one of the world’s most strategically important industrial gases and is indispensable to semiconductor manufacturing, medical technology, aerospace, quantum computing and many other high-value industries.
Successful development would create employment opportunities, stimulate local businesses, strengthen domestic supply chains and support broader industrial development.
We are still in the exploration phase, so we continue undertaking detailed studies to understand how the project can best deliver long-term benefits for local communities and for Tanzania as a whole.
*Culled from August Edition of PAV Magazine
