US Department of Energy Designates Helium as Critical Material for Tech and Manufacturing

Exam-focused facts from the 25 October 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designated helium as a critical material on Friday, October 23, 2026.
This designation was made under the Energy Act of 2020.
Helium is indispensable to semiconductor production and advanced technologies due to its lack of viable substitutes in many critical applications.
Helium is produced in the U.S. as a byproduct of natural gas processing in states including Kansas, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
Kansas leads U.S. helium production, refining crude and Grade-A helium from natural gas in the Hugoton and Greenwood areas.
U.S. production of helium is currently constrained by limited refining capacity and lengthy permitting timelines.