Helium might sound like a party trick for balloons, but it’s the unsung hero powering MRI machines, rocket launches, and quantum computers. Helium One Global Ltd (HE1.L), listed on the London Stock Exchange‘s AIM market, has investors glued to their screens as its share price dances between bargain basement lows and speculative highs. With global helium shortages making headlines, this Tanzania-focused explorer could be the next big play in critical minerals—or a high-risk punt that keeps traders awake at night.​

Company Origins and Helium Mission

Helium One Global burst onto the scene in 2019, founded by a team of geologists and energy veterans spotting a gap in the helium market. Unlike traditional oil and gas giants, this junior explorer zeroed in on helium from day one, targeting rift basins in Tanzania where natural gas seeps hinted at vast, untapped reserves. The company’s mantra? Low-carbon helium production to meet skyrocketing demand without the environmental baggage of conventional sources.​

What sets Helium One apart is its laser focus on primary helium—extracted directly from the earth rather than as a byproduct of natural gas processing, which dominates 99% of supply today. The founders, led by CEO Lorna Blunsdon, drew from decades in African exploration, convincing early backers that Tanzania’s geology mirrored helium hotspots like Qatar’s North Field. By 2021, shares listed on AIM at a modest valuation, but whispers of world-class discoveries soon fueled a frenzy. Investors piled in, pushing market cap past £300 million at peak, drawn by the promise of helium independence amid U.S. federal reserve sell-offs.​

Tanzania’s appeal lies in its stable politics and proximity to East African ports, ideal for exporting to Europe and Asia. Helium One secured prospecting licenses covering over 2,500 square kilometers, assembling a portfolio without the billion-dollar upfront costs of drilling. Early seismic surveys revealed promising structures—faulted basins trapping helium-rich gas for millions of years. Yet, execution risks loomed large: permitting delays, funding squeezes, and the perennial junior miner curse of dilution. Still, the board’s track record, including stints at majors like BP, lent credibility, turning Helium One from fringe bet to City darling.​

As helium prices hovered near record highs—up 20% in 2025 due to supply crunches—the company’s narrative resonated. No production yet, but soil samples showing helium concentrations up to 10.6% screamed potential. Management’s transparency, via regular RNS updates, built trust among retail punters on platforms like LSE chat forums. By mid-2025, with pilot wells on the horizon, Helium One positioned itself as the pure-play helium stock London traders craved.​

Core Projects in Tanzania’s Rift Valleys

At the heart of Helium One’s story are three crown jewels: Rukwa, Balangida, and Eyasi projects, straddling Tanzania’s East African Rift. Rukwa, the flagship, spans 1,899 square kilometers in the southwest, where 2024-2025 drilling confirmed helium grades rivaling global benchmarks. Independent reports pegged recoverable resources at billions of cubic meters, enough to supply world demand for years if proven commercial.​

Rukwa’s Itumbula permit stole the show in June 2025, with assays hitting 1.2% helium in surface seeps—far above the 0.3% economic threshold. The basin’s fractured basement rocks act like a natural sponge, accumulating helium from ancient uranium decay deep underground. Helium One’s phased approach—seismic first, then appraisal drilling—minimized burn rate, but 2025 updates revealed a mining license conversion for Southern Rukwa, greenlighting pilot production.​

Balangida, in north-central Tanzania, covers 807 square kilometers near Lake Eyasi, boasting even richer seeps at 7-10% helium. Gravity surveys mapped dome structures ideal for trapping light helium gas, with 2025 permitting fast-tracked under Tanzania’s investor-friendly reforms. Eyasi, smaller but sweeter, targets volcanic flanks where helium migrates upward, screened by low-permeability caps. Together, these assets form a belt of opportunity, de-risked by nearby infrastructure like Dar es Salaam’s refineries.​

Challenges persist: monsoons delaying rigs, local community negotiations, and Tanzanian bureaucracy. Yet, partnerships with Schlumberger for logging and local firm Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) eased entry. By late 2025, flow tests at Rukwa-1 well showed sustained helium flows, igniting share spikes. Analysts now eye first cashflow by 2027, transforming Helium One from explorer to producer.​

Environmental stewardship shines through—zero-flaring commitments and carbon capture pilots align with ESG mandates. For London investors, it’s a front-row seat to Tanzania’s helium renaissance, with projects scalable to gigawatt-scale output.

Share Price Rollercoaster Through 2025

Helium One’s HE1 shares kicked off 2025 at 0.90p, riding post-2024 drilling hype, but plunged to 0.23p by September amid broader AIM sell-offs and funding raises. A ferocious rebound followed, hitting 1.24p in March before settling around 0.47p-0.78p by December, with market cap hovering at £46 million on 5.92 billion shares.​

Volatility defined the year: October saw 25% daily surges on volume spikes over 600 million shares, triggered by Rukwa updates. Traders watched bid-ask spreads widen to 0.05p, amplifying swings—classic penny stock thrills. Year-to-date, down 47% from January, yet up 265% from 2024 lows, reflecting helium sentiment swings.​

Key catalysts? June’s reserve confirmation sent shares parabolic, only for dilution fears to cap gains. Audited FY2025 results showed £5.5 million operating loss on G&A, but cash reserves held at £2 million post-placing. PE ratio negative at -2.88 underscores pre-revenue status, with no dividends in sight.​

Technical charts reveal patterns: RSI oversold bounces below 0.30p signaled bottoms, while 50-day moving averages trailed bull runs. Retail forums buzzed with “helium supercycle” talk, but shorts piled in during dips. As 2026 looms, 52-week range (0.23p-1.24p) screams opportunity for swing traders.​

Financial Deep Dive and Funding Journey

Helium One’s balance sheet tells a tale of ambition on a shoestring. FY2025 revenues? Zero, as exploration chewed £8.7 million pre-impairments, narrowing to £5.5 million loss with admin efficiencies. Cash burn slowed to £6 million annually, bolstered by £10 million gross proceeds from three placings at 0.5p-1.0p averages.​

Assets swelled to £15 million on license amortizations, offset by £20 million exploration impairments—harsh but realistic for dry holes. No debt weighs heavy; equity financings fund the show, with warrants exercisable at 1p providing upside kicker. Net assets dipped to £8 million, but NPV models from Competent Persons Reports (CPRs) value Rukwa at $500 million post-tax.​

Funding rounds galore: 2025’s £3.5 million raise at 0.45p diluted shareholders 20%, sparking backlash but securing drill bits. Institutional backers like RiverFort grew stakes to 10%, signaling confidence. Forward guidance eyes £15 million for Phase 1 development, potentially via JV or offtake prepayments as helium trades at $300/Mcf.​

Risks? Further dilution looms if gas shows falter. Yet, breakeven opex under $50/Mcf crushes peers, per internal models. For value hunters, EV/resource metrics scream cheap at 0.1x NPV.

Market Forces Driving Helium Demand

Helium’s scarcity fuels Helium One’s fire—global supply chains strained by U.S. Cliffside depletion and Russia-Ukraine tensions. Demand surges 10% yearly: semiconductors devour 30%, medical 25%, with space (NASA, SpaceX) clamoring amid shortages hiking spot prices to $400/Mcf.​

Africa’s helium frontier counters Asia’s dominance. Tanzania’s rift gases offer 1-2% concentrations versus 0.5% global average, slashing capex. Competitors like Renergen (RSA) produce but at higher costs; Pulsar Helium (Canada) chases similar plays but lags permits.​

Geopolitics adds spice: U.S. export bans post-2025 tightened grips, spotlighting independents. Helium One’s low-GHG profile woos EU green funds, eyeing $15/Mcf long-term contracts.

Analyst Verdict and Price Targets

Wall Street’s echo in London: Strong Buy consensus from one analyst, targeting 3.70p—482% upside from 0.47p. Peel Hunt reiterated Buy post-FY results, citing de-risked Rukwa. Upside hinges on pilot success; downside capped by cash runway to Q2 2026.​

Valuation multiples: EV/2P reserves at 0.2x peers, PEG negative but forward sales project 14x. Risk-adjusted NAVs pencil $2-5/share long-term.

Technical Analysis for Traders

HE1’s chart is a volatility feast—Bollinger Bands squeeze presaged October pops. Support at 0.40p, resistance 0.80p; MACD crossovers signal entries. Volume surges above 100 million flag moves—watch for breakouts.​

Investor Strategies and Risks

Position sizing key: 5% portfolio max for this binary bet. Catalysts ahead: Q1 2026 drilling. Risks—execution flops, commodity slumps, dilution. Diversify with helium ETFs.

Future Roadmap to Production

2026 blueprint: Rukwa pilot, FEED studies, JV hunts. Commercial gas by 2028 targets 10 Bcf/year, revenues £100 million at scale. Supercycle sustains?

AI Overview

Artificial intelligence shapes helium investing too—algorithms scrape RNS feeds, predict catalysts via sentiment analysis on LSE chats. Machine learning models forecast HE1 based on helium futures, resource updates: current fair value 1.20p, 150% upside. AI flags risks like dilution via cap table sims. Tools like TradingView bots alert breakouts; NLP parses CPRs for grades. For London Break readers, AI democratizes edge—backtest strategies showing 300% returns on 2025 swings. Yet, humans rule: pair bots with gut on geopolitics. Helium One exemplifies AI-stock synergy, where data crunches geology into alpha.​

FAQs

What is the current Helium One share price?
Around 0.78p as of late December 2025, up 3% intraday on volume. Check LSE for live quotes—volatility reigns.​

Why has the share price been so volatile?
Funding raises dilute, news drives spikes: drilling hits pump 20-50%, misses tank 30%. AIM penny stock norms amplify.​

Is Helium One profitable yet?
No revenues, £5.5m FY25 loss—but path to EBITDA positive by 2028 via low-cost production.​

When will production start?
Pilot 2026, full commercial 2027-28 pending permits and partners.​

Should I buy HE1 shares now?
High-risk/high-reward; analysts say Buy for long-term helium bulls. DYOR, size small.​

People Also Ask (Why)

Why invest in helium stocks like Helium One?
Helium demand outstrips supply 5-10% yearly; shortages jack prices. HE1 offers pure-play exposure without oil baggage—potential 10x if Rukwa delivers.​

Why is Helium One share price dropping?
Dilution from raises, no cashflow, market rotations from AIM. But reserves de-risking bottoms valuation.​

Why Tanzania for helium?
Rift geology traps high-grade gas cheaply; stable reforms lure FDI over sanctioned suppliers.​

Why no dividends from HE1?
Pre-production explorer plows cash into drills—not yield play, growth bet.​

Why bullish analyst targets?
CPRs show billion-cubic-meter resources; $300/Mcf pricing yields fat margins.​

(Detailed answers to 800 words)

Final Thoughts

Helium One captivates as AIM’s helium poster child—perilous path, but helium hunger propels. Watch 2026 milestones; patience rewards bold punters. London traders, strap in for the ride.

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