Japan taps Siberian helium for medical equipment... and hot air balloons

The gas will be siphoned off as a byproduct of production of the Chayanda natural gas field in Sakha Republic. 'Another aim of the project is to deepen ties with Russia through economic cooperation', said the newspaper.

Gazprom is the main partner on the Russian side. 

Japan is facing shortages of helium which has led to the urgency to open up new supplies. Prices of the gas have risen sharply in recent years. 

Some hospitals have been forced to discontinue MRI scans  while Tokyo Disney Resort 'was forced to halt the sale of helium balloons in November for the first time since opening in 1983'.

The Japanese government will give financial support to companies involved in the joint project in Russia, including Itochu Corp., Marubeni Corp. and INPEX Corp.

The new Japanese policy will lead to more of its supplies - from 2017 - coming from Russia rather than its traditional supplier, the US. 

In December it was announced that Taiyo Nippon Sanso's US subsidiary Matheson Tri-Gas had signed a memorandum of understanding with Gazprom Export to jointly develop helium reserves in eastern Siberia.

Matheson will provide helium technologies and expertise linked to the development, production, liquefaction, handling, transportation and supply of the gas. 

China is also set to be a key market for the Siberian helium.