Pulsar Accelerates Helium Production

A $78.7 Million Plant Designed to Liquefy Rare Gas

The reserved facility will process roughly 940 liters of liquid helium per hour — about 8.2 million liters per year. That equates to 219 million cubic feet of gaseous helium annually. The plant also carries a CO₂ capture capacity of 300 tonnes per day, letting Pulsar sell carbon dioxide as a byproduct and generate extra revenue, according to Ontario Farmer.

Pulsar's initial cash commitment is modest: $250,000 up front to reserve the plant, followed by $750,000 at the 90-day mark. The company must sign a definitive purchase agreement by July 31, 2026. Once acquired, the plant's design also allows it to process gas from third-party wells, meaning Pulsar could earn revenue even before its own production hits full capacity, according to Fairview Post.

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Topaz Sits on Some of the Richest Helium Deposits Ever Found

The Topaz project began as a lucky accident in 2011, when nickel explorers struck helium-rich gas in northern Minnesota. Follow-up drilling at the Jetstream #1 well in February 2024 confirmed helium concentrations of up to 13.8% — among the highest ever recorded on Earth. Most commercial helium fields grade below 1%. Topaz's gas is also "primary helium," meaning it is not tied to natural gas production and does not depend on oil and gas prices, according to Cold Lake Sun.

Testing at Jetstream #1 also confirmed the presence of Helium-3, an ultra-rare isotope used in quantum computing and nuclear fusion research. Helium-3 is valued at roughly $18.7 million per kilogram. Pulsar holds 690 net mineral acres outright and leases another 4,941 net mineral acres over the Topaz reservoir, according to Northern News.

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Minnesota's New Law Unlocked the Path to Production

For years, Minnesota had no legal framework for gas mining. That created a de facto ban on helium production. In May 2026, Governor Tim Walz signed new legislation that set up an expedited permitting process specifically for non-hydrocarbon gases like helium and hydrogen. That law was the critical green light Pulsar needed to move forward. The project sits in Minnesota's Iron Range, a region with a 150-year history of resource extraction and strong local support for the jobs it could bring, according to Shoreline Beacon.

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Global Helium Crunch Makes Topaz Strategically Vital

Pulsar is moving fast for a reason. Geopolitical shocks have squeezed global helium supply hard. Attacks on QatarEnergy facilities and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have cut off roughly 35% of the world's helium. Russia has added export controls on top of that. Helium is essential for cooling MRI machines, manufacturing semiconductors, and running fiber-optic systems. The U.S. has no large independent liquid helium producers, leaving it heavily reliant on imports, according to Paris Star Online.

If Pulsar commissions its plant on schedule, it would become one of the few independent liquid helium producers in North America. The company has already secured a $12.5 million expression of interest from University Bank for early processing infrastructure. It is also exploring commercial debt and project-specific loans to fund the full $78.7 million plant acquisition, according to Pembroke Observer.

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