China Looking for Alternative Sources for Helium

China has been working over the last few years to reduce its dependence on U.S.-sourced helium, a strategic resource widely used in medical and high-tech industries, including semiconductors and quantum computing. China used to depend on the U.S. for most of its helium, but with the more restrictive policies toward China, it is looking for alternative sources. Qatar now accounts for almost 90% of China’s helium, with an increasing amount coming from Russia. (The U.S. could possibly strongarm Qatar into restricting its supply.) Russia has therefore launched a major project in the Amur valley to increase helium production.