The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management has accepted Bridgewater-based Messer‘s bid for the Federal Helium System, and the company will move forward to the necessary regulatory reviews to acquire the assets.
“Messer is fully committed to the future success of the Helium System, as evidenced by Messer’s safe and reliable operation of the system’s Cliffside Gas Plant since May 2022,” Elena Skvortsova, CEO and president, Messer Americas, said.
The Federal Helium System was auctioned by the General Services Administration on Jan. 25, in accordance with the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, which required the Bureau of Land Management to sunset its management of the system and follow a statutory disposal process.
The Helium System includes helium molecules stored in the caverns in Amarillo, Texas, as well as the Cliffside field, wells and gathering system, the 423-mile-long crude helium pipeline and additional operational assets.
The accepted bid must now undergo required antitrust review by the Department of Justice. The company will also work with regulators across multiple states to comply with local laws and regulations.
“Messer intends to be a responsible operator and steward of this critical asset for decades to come, continuing to serve the many industries that rely on this vital resource that enables key technology and innovation in multiple sectors of the economy,” Skvortsova added.
