Blue Star Helium Ltd (ASX:BNL, OTC:BSNLF) has strengthened its leadership team with strategic board appointments as it approaches its targeted Voyager production and advances commercial pathways at its Galactica/Pegasus operations in North America.
Gregg Peters joins as a non-executive director and Neil Rinaldi steps into the role of non-executive chairman while Ross Warner departs from the board.
Peters comes with more than 30 years of commercial leadership experience in the industrial gas sector.
Meanwhile, Rinaldi's new role aims to reinforce the company's governance structures, marking a significant shift with the departure of Ross Warner.
These appointments arrive at a pivotal moment for Blue Star as it moves closer to targeted Voyager production and advances commercialisation pathways at Galactica/Pegasus and beyond.
Professional calibre and helium experience
Blue Star managing director and CEO Trent Spry said: "We are delighted to welcome Gregg to the Blue Star team after having formed a strong professional relationship with him over some time now.
“It is pleasing to have attracted someone of the professional calibre and helium experience as Gregg as we move closer to targeted production from our high-grade Voyager helium project and advancing commercialisation pathways for our Galactica/Pegasus discoveries.
“Both Gregg and I are equally excited about the potential of our existing exploration portfolio and additional future developments of new potential resource discoveries from our existing exploration portfolio and beyond.
“We look forward to his contributions to the success of Blue Star over the coming years."
Proven track record
Peters brings a proven track record of commercial leadership in the industrial gas sector with more than 30 years of direct market experience.
Most recently he was Helium director, North America for Linde PLC ( Praxair Inc (NYSE:).).
Peters managed all aspects of commercial helium operations from mid-2010, including price strategy, contracting, client portfolios, supply system development, as well as marketing and technical support to operating business units, distributors and end-users across all modes of supply, liquid and gaseous.
Currently, he is COO for the Edelgas Group and managing director of Disruptive Resources, LLC.
Peters said: “Having had the opportunity to review most of the viable exploration projects in North America and the privilege of close review for many of the best of those, Blue Star holds a particularly interesting portfolio.
“Their operations in Colorado are in areas known to have notably high helium compositions. Initial successful exploration results confirm this at a number of prospects across their portfolio."
Rising helium demand
Helium is a unique industrial gas that exhibits characteristics both of a bulk, commodity gas and of a high-value specialty gas and is considered a 'high tech' strategic element.
Due to its unique chemical and physical qualities, helium is a vital element in the manufacture of MRIs and semiconductors and is critical for fibre optic cable manufacturing, hard disc manufacture and cooling, space exploration, rocketry, lifting and high-level science.
There is no way of manufacturing helium artificially and most of the world’s reserves have been derived as a byproduct of the extraction of natural hydrocarbon gas.
Peters added: “With no projected softening in helium demand and market dynamics driving the need for true diversity in sources of supply, Blue Star becomes one of the most exciting near-term production opportunities for the market.
“It all starts with the molecules. I look forward to working with the Blue Star team, qualifying potential buyers and partners, and helping them optimize commercialization of the production from their Voyager project and beyond."