D3 Energy has secured a new Technical Cooperation Permit adjacent to its flagship helium project in South Africa, broadening its exploration footprint and reinforcing its position in the global helium market.
- Award of Technical Cooperation Permit TCP273 adjacent to ER315
- Expansion adds approximately 82,777 acres to D3 Energy’s South African holdings
- Permit enables low-cost geological and geophysical studies over one year
- Potential to apply for full Exploration Right following study completion
- ER315 holds certified helium and methane reserves with ongoing development
Strategic Expansion in a World-Class Helium Province
D3 Energy Limited has taken a significant step forward in its South African helium exploration strategy with the award of a new Technical Cooperation Permit, TCP273. Situated adjacent to the company’s flagship Exploration Right ER315 in the Free State Province, this permit expands D3 Energy’s footprint by approximately 82,777 acres, bringing its total exploration area in the region to nearly 479,000 acres.
The Free State is recognised as a world-class helium province, and D3 Energy’s move to secure TCP273 aligns with its broader ambition to become a leading helium developer. The permit covers highly prospective structural trends that have already yielded promising helium concentrations of up to 6.2% in shallow boreholes within ER315, underscoring the potential for further discoveries.
Low-Cost Exploration and Future Growth Potential
Granted for a one-year term, TCP273 allows D3 Energy to conduct low-cost, desktop-based geological and geophysical studies. These studies will leverage proprietary in-house algorithms and extensive geological modelling to assess the permit’s resource potential. Upon successful completion, the company intends to apply for a full Exploration Right, following a pathway it has previously navigated with permit ER386.
This approach offers D3 Energy a cost-effective means to expand its resource inventory, particularly for helium and methane, which are critical gases in the global energy transition. The company’s Managing Director and CEO, David Casey, highlighted that this permit award strengthens D3 Energy’s portfolio and provides meaningful exploration upside in a highly prospective region.
Building on Established Reserves and Development Momentum
ER315 remains the cornerstone of D3 Energy’s South African operations, boasting certified helium and methane reserves alongside significant contingent and prospective resources. The company is actively advancing development activities, including Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) work for Production Right PR016, signalling progress towards commercialisation.
In addition to its South African assets, D3 Energy has diversified its portfolio with strategic acquisitions in Australia’s Arckaringa Basin, focusing on helium and hydrogen permits. This international expansion complements its core operations and positions the company well within the critical gases sector.
Overall, the award of TCP273 represents a calculated and strategic expansion that could enhance D3 Energy’s resource base and support its long-term growth ambitions in the helium market.
Bottom Line?
D3 Energy’s new permit could unlock further helium resources, but the path to full exploration rights and commercial production remains a key watchpoint.
Questions in the middle?
- What timeline does D3 Energy anticipate for converting TCP273 into a full Exploration Right?
- How might new exploration data from TCP273 impact the company’s overall resource estimates?
- What are the next steps for advancing development at ER315 and PR016?