Gold Hydrogen Ltd (ASX:GHY) has made a breakthrough discovery of Helium-3 – a rare isotope critical for nuclear fusion – at its Ramsay Project in South Australia, and Oxford University has confirmed its presence within the site’s natural helium system.
“Helium-3 is an incredibly rare and valuable gas in high demand from the world’s largest countries and companies," Gold Hydrogen managing director Neil McDonald said.
"With advances in quantum computing and, especially, nuclear fusion, there’s an urgent need for new Helium-3 supplies."
World powers look to the moon
This material is so rare on our planet, where it typically appears in nuclear by-products, that geopolitical powers such as the US, China and Russia have been considering lunar mining – yes, mining the moon – for supply. Such an endeavour would cost in the billions of dollars.
The news has sent shares in the company soaring to $0.975 today, 32.66% higher than the previous close.
The Oxford scientists conducted detailed isotopic analysis of samples from Ramsay’s initial drilling program and their findings give the company confidence in the project’s potential as a globally relevant zero-emission energy resource.
Helium-3, a highly valued resource for its role in nuclear fusion, was detected in samples at depths between 280 and 1,000 metres, with purity levels reaching 36.9%, which means Ramsay’s numbers are among the highest recorded globally.
The team confirmed Helium-3 concentrations up to 901 parts per trillion (ppt), significantly above atmospheric levels of 7.2 ppt.
These shallow-depth discoveries could offer a more accessible and economically viable source of Helium-3 than alternative extraterrestrial sources.
Clean nuclear fusion
Helium-3 is extremely scarce and valuable, with limited availability on Earth. It has predominantly been produced as a byproduct of tritium decay in nuclear reactors.
This rare isotope holds immense value for its potential to fuel clean nuclear fusion reactions, a technology under development that could redefine global energy production.
The isotope’s unique neutron absorption properties also make it critical for quantum computing, medical imaging and advanced cryogenics, with current market prices exceeding $2,500 per litre — over 140,000 times the value of standard Helium-4.
What’s next?
Alongside the find, the company continues to analyse data from its initial drilling at Ramsay.
This ongoing assessment includes geotechnical measurements, flow rates and chemical composition data, all of which are pointing towards a promising profile for Helium-3 as well as other commercially valuable gases.
The company is now working with international organisations to develop efficient methods for Helium-3 and Helium-4 separation, which could accelerate the project's impact.
A clean nuclear energy future
Gold Hydrogen’s discovery aligns with global energy trends favouring nuclear fusion as a promising solution for sustainable, low-waste, non-toxic energy production, with high-profile backers in government and industry.
The scarcity of terrestrial Helium-3 has previously hindered these efforts.
GHY has confirmed Helium-3 reserves could provide a practical, Earth-based solution to this challenge, giving it strategic significance as fusion technology approaches commercial viability.
“With advances in quantum computing and, especially, nuclear fusion, there’s an urgent need for new Helium-3 supplies,” McDonald said.
“Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), backed by investors such as Bill Gates Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Jeff Bezos, Khosla Investments and the US Department of Energy, has made groundbreaking progress toward viable nuclear fusion technology.
“Further to breakthroughs such as at that of CFS, a company called Interlune, also backed by the Department of Energy, are advancing technologies to separate Helium-3 from domestic sources, eliminating the need for moon-based extraction — an approach that would otherwise cost billions of dollars.
“To confirm Helium-3 within a land-based system, as we have at the Ramsay Project, could be revolutionary.
“With up to 100 kilograms of Helium-3 potentially needed annually to power a single 1 GW fusion plant, we’re looking at the potential to participate in a substantial market forecast to be worth an estimated $1.4 billion per 1 GW fusion plant.
“This rare and recoverable resource could position Ramsay as a world-class project of strategic significance.
“There is more research, work and exploration required to understand the source and generation of the helium, and we will press forward on this exciting opportunity.”