Upstream — exploration and production

Phase 1 targets proven-play extensions of the Karoo helium-rich gas fairway. The R950m exploration budget funds seismic reprocessing, 12–18 exploration and appraisal wells over 24 months (typical depth 300–700m, R18–35m per well including testing), extended production tests feeding the pilot plant, and SAMREC/PRMS-compliant independent reserve certification, the gating item for FID and senior-debt drawdown. Production wells are low-pressure and long-life (15–25 years), gathered via HDPE flowlines into the central processing facility.

Midstream — LNG liquefaction

The LNG complex is built in two stages: a ~15,000 tpa pilot train commissioned in FY2027–28 using a standardised skid-mounted nitrogen-cycle liquefier, followed by Phase 2 modular trains taking nameplate to ~200,000 tpa by FY2030. Modular, vendor-standard units compress schedule risk and let capacity track contracted demand; plant availability is modelled at 92% with a 21-day annual turnaround.

Midstream — helium recovery and liquefaction

Helium is concentrated in the LNG process, purified through pressure-swing adsorption to 99.999% and liquefied at 4.2 K in a dedicated cold box, the highest-complexity subsystem in the project and the one carrying vendor performance wraps and liquidated damages. Design capacity is 900 mcf/day; liquid helium is stored in an 11,000-gallon field tank and loaded to 40-ft cryogenic ISO containers for export via Durban.

Downstream — cryogenic logistics

• LNG fleet: building to 28 cryogenic road tankers by FY2031 (owned and leased), telemetry-managed, serving customer regas skids and 8–12 refuelling stations.
• Helium chain: 14 ISO containers in rotation by FY2031, port-handling agreements at Durban, and boil-off management targeting <2% voyage losses.
• Maintenance: OEM service contracts on cold boxes and liquefiers for five years; an in-house cryogenic technician team trained under vendor programmes.

Technology selections

Long-lead items, cold boxes, compressors and ISO containers, are ordered against FID with slots reserved at contract signature; current 14–20 month helium cold-box lead times sit on the project critical path and drive the Gantt in Section 11.