Rift Helium plc has listed on AIM, joining the London Stock Exchange with a £8.1m raise at 10p per share and an implied market capitalisation of £13.4m. The company will deploy funds into exploration in Tanzania’s Rukwa Basin, targeting primary helium accumulations at its 283 km² Upepo licence.

The listing lands against a fragile supply backdrop. Global helium output is highly concentrated, with Qatar a dominant supplier and export routes exposed to disruption around the Strait of Hormuz. Recent supply interruptions and Russian export controls have tightened availability, elevating the strategic value of new primary sources outside the Gulf.

Rift’s technical case rests on the Rukwa Basin hosting helium not associated with hydrocarbons, simplifying processing relative to LNG-linked recovery. An independent CPR (NSAI) estimates gross unrisked P50 prospective resources of 19 Bcf (mean 41 Bcf), though commerciality hinges on reservoir continuity and flow rates.

Near-term work includes environmental approvals, 3D seismic in 2026 and drilling targeted for H1 2027. Export would route via Dar es Salaam toward Asian markets, avoiding Gulf transit risk.

The gap is execution. Helium systems are prone to leakage and variable concentrations, while liquefaction requires capital-intensive cryogenics. Rift offers exposure to tightening supply dynamics, but remains an early-stage exploration play rather than a near-term producer.

Rift Helium non-executive chairman, Patrick Muwowo, said: “Helium is an increasingly important commodity for a range of high-value industries, yet global supply remains constrained and vulnerable to disruption. Against that backdrop, Rift is entering the public market at an important time."

Advising on the project was Haynes Boone through its capital markets office.