ASX- and JSE-listed gas producer Renergen is now able to liquify helium in batches from its wells at the Virginia gas project, in South Africa’s Free State province.
Since April 2, the original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) that supplied the equipment had brought the helium cold box to the appropriate temperature to liquify helium. A part of this process involved the purification of the helium to a level of 99.999% purity, which Renergen said had been validated by an independent third-party laboratory.
The OEM was now ensuring that the operating conditions were satisfactory to start the performance test, at which stage the helium train would be put into continuous operation mode, Renergen said on May 6.
To provide assurance that future shutdowns and restarts were smooth, the company explained that the helium train would be taken offline and the process would restart from ambient conditions to ensure repeatability and that every process in the production cycle was documented and recorded with the OEM present.
The production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) had not ceased at any stage throughout the process and would continue to operate, Renergen CEO Stefano Marani assured shareholders.
"The OEM will complete any necessary checks and balances in the coming weeks before embarking on the performance test; however, all liquid helium produced is recoverable and will be used to fill tanks for customers,” he emphasised.
Renergen’s share price on the JSE rose by 8.43% on May 6, following the announcement.
Edited by: Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online
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