The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, joined Northern Territory Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, to officially open the southern hemisphere's first helium plant at the BOC Wickham Point plant in Darwin.
The $50 million project will use waste trace gases from the nearby ConocoPhillips Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plant to extract helium for domestic and export markets.
Minister Ferguson said: "Sources of helium are relatively rare and this innovative project using waste trace gases will replace imports from the USA and Middle East and also provide a new export opportunity for Australia."
Mr Henderson said the project demonstrated how the growth in the offshore gas industry in the Timor Sea could lead to spin-off industry developments.
"The NT Government is committed to developing Darwin and the Territory as an international gas hub and this is another important step in that process," Mr Henderson said.
Helium has well-established international markets due to its wide-ranging industrial uses.
It is used extensively in the space and defence industries, for laser welding, and for producing semi-conductors and optical fibres. Helium is also important in medical applications such as the operation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines.
"Production from this plant will be a boost not only to our economy in the top end, but the rest of the country highlighting the development of innovative export industries," Mr Henderson said.
As the coldest known substance, helium becomes liquid at minus 260 degrees and is widely used in the operation of MRI machines throughout hospitals. It is also commonly used in space and defence industries as well as its best known application - party balloons and blimps.
Both Ministers congratulated BOC on the completion of this ambitious project - based on minimising waste and using resources more efficiently - and welcomed its contribution to employment and wealth creation in the Northern Territory.
BOC is one of Australia's top 100 companies and provides essential gases to hospitals, factories, science laboratories, food and beverage companies, and millions of family homes.