Rift Helium
Rift Helium plc is a London-headquartered, AIM-listed helium exploration company developing its 283 km² Upepo Project in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin, targeting primary (non-hydrocarbon) helium production from 2029 for export to Asian and European technology and industrial markets.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rift Helium does
Rift Helium plc is a London-headquartered, AIM-listed helium exploration company building primary (non-hydrocarbon-associated) helium supply from its 283 km² Upepo Project in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin. The company was founded in 2022, secured its licences that same year, and listed on AIM in April 2026 raising £8.1 million at a £13.4 million implied market capitalisation. Operations are run through a 99%-owned Tanzanian subsidiary, Kidunda (TZ) Limited, with strategic and technical leadership drawn from alumni of Pulsar Helium and Helium One.
The company's core technical proposition centres on a "third-mover" exploration model that leverages £50M+ of third-party technical spend and 3D seismic acquisition to identify high-grade structural closures within sandstone reservoirs sealed by regional mudstones in a water-supported system. Independent CPR places gross unrisked P50 prospective resources at 19 Bcf (mean 41 Bcf); surface seeps adjacent to the licences reach 10.2% helium with a 5.6% mean concentration in the maiden resource — among the highest grades recorded globally and well above the 0.05–0.3% typical of byproduct extraction. Near-term milestones include environmental approvals, 3D seismic in 2026 and drilling targeted for H1 2027, with first production planned from 2029.
Rift Helium is pre-revenue and does not yet sell products or services. Its business model targets primary helium production and export via Dar es Salaam deepwater port to Asian markets (~60% of global helium imports) and European markets (~30%), serving end-uses in semiconductors, quantum computing, aerospace, fusion energy, MRI, fibre optics, data centres and deep-sea diving. Helium is to be transported in ISO containers without pipeline infrastructure, positioning the company as a future independent supplier in a market growing 5–7% annually with prices having risen ~300% over the past 15 years. The company is fully funded for current work programmes following the April 2026 AIM admission.
Rift Helium firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rift Helium
- Legal name
- Rift Helium Plc
- Website
- https://rifthelium.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Rift Helium plc is a London-headquartered, AIM-listed helium exploration company developing its 283 km² Upepo Project in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin, targeting primary (non-hydrocarbon) helium production from 2029 for export to Asian and European technology and industrial markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rift Helium industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Helium Exploration and Production
- NAICS
- Natural Gas Extraction (21113), Natural Gas Extraction (211130), Industrial Gas Manufacturing (325120)
- SIC
- Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas (1311), Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Helium & Rare Gases (Neon/Krypton/Xenon) (IMAEACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sour Gas / High-CO₂ Gas E&P (Acid Gas Fields) (EUAAAAAE), Cryogenic Liquids & Distribution (IMAEACAK)
Keywords
Where Rift Helium is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
Rift Helium business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Helium Production and Export: Pre-revenue exploration company planning to produce helium from its Upepo Project in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin. Export planned via Dar es Salaam to Asian markets, positioning the company as an early-stage exploration play. Production targeted from 2029.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Rift Helium product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rift Helium is a pre-revenue primary helium exploration company developing the Upepo Project across 283 km² of licences in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin. The company is targeting non-hydrocarbon-associated helium accumulations with surface seeps reaching 10.2% helium, with production targeted from 2029. Planned export routes via the Dar es Salaam port will serve semiconductor, aerospace, medical and quantum computing end-markets.
Product overview
Rift Helium is a primary helium exploration company with a single core offering: the Upepo Project. This project represents an early-stage helium exploration initiative in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin, where the company is deploying seismic surveys and drilling to discover and extract helium. The company listed on AIM in April 2026 following an £8.1 million IPO raise and is targeting production from 2029. The company does not operate a software product platform; its business model centers on helium resource exploration and eventual production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Upepo Project Rift Helium's flagship primary helium exploration project covering 283 km² of strategically positioned licences in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin, adjacent to proven helium discoveries. The project targets non-hydrocarbon-associated helium accumulations with surface seeps reaching up to 10.2% helium concentration and a mean concentration of 5.6% helium in the maiden resource. Planned end use is helium supply for semiconductor, quantum computing, aerospace, fusion energy, MRI, fibre optic, data centre, and deep-sea diving industries, with production targeted from 2029 and export via the Dar es Salaam port.
Quantifiable outcome
- Production from 2029
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Rift Helium
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rift Helium technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Rift Helium partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.
- Haynes and Boone CDG LLPsupportingLegal counsel providing advice on English law matters for the company's corporate and regulatory affairs.
- Bowmans Tanzania LimitedsupportingLegal counsel providing advice on Tanzanian law matters for the company's exploration activities and local operations.
- Neville Registrars LimitedsupportingShare registrar providing share registry services including shareholder management and administrative support.
- Celicourt Communications LimitedsupportingFinancial PR firm providing investor communications and media relations services for the AIM-listed company.
- Forward MotionsupportingTanzanian NGO partnered with Rift Helium to empower vulnerable girls and women through education, vocational training, and health access. Delivers community impact from the outset of operations, aligned with the company's ESG commitments.
- Pulsar HeliumsupportingSenior advisors from Pulsar Helium include Neil Herbert (Executive Chairman) and Tom Abraham-James (CEO), both experienced in building successful helium companies. The advisory relationship provides industry expertise and helium sector knowledge.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rift Helium competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rift Helium social profiles
Digital presenceRift Helium financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rift Helium leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Rift Helium subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Rift Helium funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rift Helium M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rift Helium
What does Rift Helium do?
Rift Helium is a pre-revenue primary helium exploration company developing the Upepo Project across 283 km² of licences in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin. The company is targeting non-hydrocarbon-associated helium accumulations with surface seeps reaching 10.2% helium, with production targeted from 2029. Planned export routes via the Dar es Salaam port will serve semiconductor, aerospace, medical and quantum computing end-markets.
Is Rift Helium a public or private company?
Rift Helium is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Rift Helium founded?
Rift Helium was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Rift Helium based?
Rift Helium is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Rift Helium make money?
One revenue line is on record: helium Production and Export.
Does Rift Helium have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rift Helium.
What industry is Rift Helium in?
Rift Helium's product category is Helium Exploration and Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEACAD, Helium & Rare Gases (Neon/Krypton/Xenon), with a secondary code of EUAAAAAE, Sour Gas / High-CO₂ Gas E&P (Acid Gas Fields). Its NAICS code is 21113 and its SIC code is 1311.