U.S. Designates Helium a Critical Material, Citing Semiconductor Use
Photo: TokenPost
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designated helium a critical material Friday, Oct. 23, bringing the industrial gas used in semiconductor manufacturing into a federal framework for developing critical-material technologies. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said helium is essential to producing “the semiconductors and advanced technologies that power our economy.” The designation was DOE’s 20th critical-material designation. The Energy Act of 2020 framework supports development and commercialization of technologies tied to critical materials. Helium is recovered as a byproduct of natural gas processing. Other uses include quantum computing, medical imaging, magnets and space rockets.
Source: TokenPost
