New helium purification facility to be built in southwest Sask.

The largest helium purification operation in Canada is set to be built in Saskatchewan.

In a media release Thursday, the provincial government announced the facility is to be built near Battle Creek in the province’s southwest. North American Helium Inc., is to start construction in October, with the facility to be operational by July of 2021.

“Helium production in Saskatchewan is set to take off,” Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said in the release. “The building of this purification facility by North American Helium will enable the province to scale helium production and important export capacity.”

Helium prices have increased by more than 160 per cent since 2017, the government said. There are significant underground reserves in Saskatchewan, where about 20 wells have been drilled over the past five years.

Helium can be used in medical research and diagnostic testing, digital technologies, semiconductors, fibre optics, nuclear power facilities, rocket systems, welding and balloons.