News, Tanzania

Helium One Compensates Momba Residents for Helium Project

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025By Mkufi Dindai
Helium One Compensates Momba Residents for Helium Project

HELIUM One has paid over 100 million Tanzanian shillings in compensation to residents of five villages in Momba District, Songwe Region, as it prepares for large-scale exploration and production activities.

The beneficiaries include residents from Itumbula, Lwatwe, Masanyinta, Mkonko, and Muungano villages, who voluntarily offered land for the project, which aims to establish Tanzania as a global leader in helium production.

During a visit by officials from the Ministry of Minerals and local journalists, Helium One’s Site Operations Supervisor, Emmanuel Ghachocha, confirmed that all compensation was fully in line with Tanzanian laws and regulations.

He emphasized the company’s commitment to ensuring that local communities benefit significantly from both the current and future stages of the project.

“One of our main priorities is educating the community,” Mr. Ghachocha explained. “We want local residents to understand the value of helium, how it’s extracted, and the benefits it can bring to both their community and the country.”

The project, launched in 2015 with the establishment of Helium One, has already reached key milestones, including seismic surveys and the drilling of exploration wells.

Exploration activities have confirmed the presence of helium at a depth of 1.14 kilometers at the Itumbula West 1 and Tai 3 wells. The results from the Itumbula West 1 well revealed a significant concentration of helium, with a high purity of 7.9 percent, sparking optimism for further exploration.

The project is expected to span more than a decade, offering long-term development opportunities for both the Songwe Region and the nation at large.

On behalf of the Momba District Council, Kamsamba Ward Councillor and Council Vice-Chairman, Kyalambwene Kakwale, confirmed that all affected residents had been fully compensated.

The successful development of helium reserves in Songwe marks an important milestone for Tanzania’s extractive industry, bringing significant economic potential to both the Songwe Region and the country as a whole.