Hydrogen takes a backseat to the appearance of a huge one helium mine in France. If the gigantic hydrogen mine in this region of Spain managed to surprise you, you can’t miss the following. Despite being the second most common element in the world, finding helio in the Tierra is extremely rare, with the most reserves in it Texas and other countries far away Europe. Its most widespread use is in medicine, technology industry and special research.
Francewhich imports 100% of its current consumption, sees the arrival of this mine as a unique opportunity to reduce its energy costs and increase its competitiveness in the high-tech market. The extraction of helio It could increase France’s energy sovereignty and reduce its dependence on imports.
In Spaina country close to French territory, expectations about the helio are aimed at a location in the Pyrenees Aragonese, in Huesca. The company Helios Aragonsubsidiary of BP j Axionhas started prospecting to confirm the potential of these reserves. They claim they contain the same amount helio as significant amounts of pure hydrogen. A scenario that would position Spain as a leading country in the field of sustainable energy at European and global level.
France finds a treasure: a helium mine that no one can talk about
Following this line, the first helium production unit in Western Europe It was inaugurated last September Saint-Parize-Le-Châtelin the region of Nièvrein the center of France. Although still in the experimental phase, the goal is pretentious: to be able to cover up to 15% of the country’s needs in the long term. “We can say we have found a gold mine,” he told the media. France Info Camille Sigucommunications manager at the company 45-8 Energy.
This company, which is in charge of the project, emphasizes that the area has been on the radar for some time: “It is a region known since Antique for hosting carbonate springs initially exploited for thermal purposes and later as mineral water.”
Previous work confirmed expectations, revealing a high potential for helium, which was emitted along with carbon dioxide due to the failure of Saint-Parizean area well known to geologists. For this reason, the company submitted an application for an exclusive research permit (PER) in September 2019, which was approved by the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
“If we validate the test phase and move to industrial scale, there will be enormous benefits. With the heliowe will capture carbon dioxide, which is scarce at an industrial level France” he clarified Pigs. In 2016, a huge deposit came to light east of the valley Rift, TanzaniaBut Europewhich imports all its consumption for the time being, is lagging behind in this race.
France could face the most important energy opportunity in history thanks to helium
Having to make your own deposit would France will gain “in national and European sovereignty. Today we import 100% of our needs. He helio It is a very light gas that is found underground in a gaseous state. It is imported from United States, Qatar… These are long distances, so to contain the molecule we have to liquefy the helium, which takes a lot of energy,” Sigu explains.
This project focuses on the helio This is crowding out the widespread attention that hydrogen is receiving. France opens the umbrella of opportunities. An umbrella that is already starting to become intuitive with the appearance of the largest hydrogen mine in history, located in Lorraine, a region of France.