Every major operation will, sooner or later, produce unintended consequences, including some that most of us never would have imagined. In the case of the ongoing Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion, there's a new one, a by-product of natural gas processing, a substance the supplies of which are now tightening, a substance which is vital to, among other things, microchip manufacturing.
The substance? Helium. No, not the city that is home to the royal house of Barsoom; the noble gas, consisting of two protons and two electrons.
Tightened supply of helium due to the Middle East conflict has started affecting some production in the global tech supply chains, leaving companies scrambling to secure alternative supplies, industry executives said.
Helium is used in several key stages of chipmaking, including cooling, leak detection and precision manufacturing processes, and its prices have soared since the Middle East crisis began. Supply of helium, a byproduct of natural gas processing, is highly concentrated geographically, with Qatar producing nearly one third of world supply, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey.
"A helium shortage is an absolute concern,” said Cameron Johnson, senior partner at supply chain consultancy Tidal Wave Solutions, at Semicon China in Shanghai, one of the industry's largest annual gatherings.
Helium has a range of uses in chip production, and as a noble gas, a gas which does not form chemical bonds with other substances, it's uniquely useful.
As a noble gas, helium is chemically inert, which minimises the risk of contamination during production processes. Its low thermal conductivity allows for precise temperature control, crucial for maintaining optimal conditions during chip fabrication.
Additionally, helium’s lightweight and small atomic size facilitate its use in creating ultra-clean environments, essential for the delicate processes involved in semiconductor manufacturing. This unique combination of properties enables manufacturers to achieve tighter tolerances and greater accuracy in circuit designs.
Furthermore, helium’s ability to diffuse quickly through materials enhances the effectiveness of various techniques, thereby supporting the overall advancement of semiconductor technology.
These factors collectively underscore helium’s indispensable role in achieving high manufacturing precision.
It's a safe bet the Trump administration anticipated this, and like the current spike in gasoline and diesel prices, accepted as part of the cost of taking the Islamic Republic off the board.
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What we haven't seen is much talk of alternative sources. Here's the good news: The United States is the largest single producer of helium, with 43 percent of the global total. American production won't be affected so much by the ongoing fracas, but the second largest producer is Qatar, with 33 percent of the global total. Russia, Algeria, and Canada produce nine percent, six percent, and three percent, respectively.
Domestic supplies or no, helium is, like petroleum and natural gas, a global commodity, and price jumps affect every market to some extent.
For every major action like this, there are unintended consequences. This is rather a big one, though; helium is essential in microprocessor production, and microprocessors are now in almost everything we use in our daily lives, from watches to vehicles, from smartphones to pacemakers. They are essential to our modern lifestyles, and that means helium is, likewise, essential.
Let's hope that Secretary of War Hegseth is correct in his statement that the coming days will be decisive.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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