The US Department of Energy says that Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has designated helium as a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020 to strengthen American manufacturing and supply chain security, Reuters reports.
The designation advances the Trump administration’s push to reduce US reliance on foreign critical minerals, bolster domestic manufacturing and secure key materials for economic and national security, it says in a statement.
The department determines that helium meets the statutory definition of a critical material due to its essential role in American manufacturing and growing exposure to supply chain risks.
“Helium is essential to producing the semiconductors and advanced technologies that power our economy. By designating helium as a critical material, we are taking another step toward securing our supply chains, creating American jobs, and ensuring the United States leads the world in energy and technological innovation,” the statement reads, quoting Wright.
