While most people associate helium with balloons and funny voices, the element is used in a surprisingly wide variety of industrial settings, including semiconductor production, where its role in advanced lithography has been growing rapidly. But helium mining and exploration in North America has been practically non-existent for a variety of reasons. And while the US used to have a strategic helium reserve, the government started selling that down in the late 1990s. On this episode, we speak with Nicholas Snyder, the founder and CEO of North American Helium, which does helium mining in Canada.

QatarEnergy has stopped LNG production following attacks on critical energy infrastructure on the Gulf state and Saudi Arabia.

QatarEnergy said it had halted LNG production and associated products – which will impact the global helium market – and it will continue to communicate the “latest available information”.

Credit: GasWorld.com

Calgary, March 13, 2026 - North American Helium Inc. (“NAH” or the “Company”) today addressed ongoing global helium supply disruptions stemming from production being offline in Qatar, underscoring the structural vulnerabilities in the helium market and the importance of reliable, geopolitically secure sources.

The Iran war is choking crucial supply lines around the world as strikes continue across the Middle East, and experts are warning that the price of helium may be on the rise in the coming days.