Providing smart access to primary helium from a proven basin
22 April 2026, Rift Helium plc, which is providing investors with smart access to primary helium in a proven basin in southwest Tanzania, is pleased to announce the admission of its ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in the capital of the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (“Admission”). The Company’s Ordinary Shares will commence trading at 8.00 a.m. today under the ticker symbol “RIFT” and the ISIN GB00BVRY9595.
The Company has raised gross proceeds of approximately £8.1 million pursuant to a placing and subscription of 80,855,000 new Ordinary Shares at an issue price of 10 pence per share (the “Fundraising”). On Admission, the Company will have 134,142,041 Ordinary Shares in issue with a market capitalisation of approximately £13.4 million at the issue price.
The Company’s Admission Document and information required pursuant to AIM Rule 26 is available on the Company’s website at www.rifthelium.com
Commenting, Rift Helium Non-Executive Chairman, Patrick Muwowo, said:
“Helium is an increasingly important commodity for a range of high-value industries, yet global supply remains constrained and vulnerable to disruption. Against that backdrop, Rift is entering the public market at an important time. I would like to thank our new investors for their support, and the management team and advisers for their hard work in reaching this important milestone for the Company.”
Rift Helium CEO, Charlie FitzRoy, said:
“Admission marks the start of Rift’s next phase as we begin deploying the proceeds of the Company’s successful IPO fundraise against a clear and focused strategy. With recent disruption in Qatar, which normally accounts for close to one-third of global helium supply, and new Russian export controls adding further uncertainty to the market, Rift is entering the public market against a highly favourable backdrop for new primary helium supply. In the Rukwa Basin, the key question is no longer whether helium exists, but where it accumulates in commercial volumes. Our third-mover strategy is designed to apply the lessons from adjacent discoveries to target those accumulations more efficiently and with greater technical discipline. With a clear route toward future export markets, including Asia, the world’s largest and fastest-growing helium import region, we now look forward to deploying the IPO proceeds across our near-term catalysts, including EIA approval, 3D seismic-led prospect definition and drilling at the Upepo Project.”
Investment Highlights
|
● |
Smart access to primary helium in a proven basin: Rift offers investors direct exposure to primary helium exploration in the Rukwa Basin, where adjacent discoveries and drilling activity have helped validate a working helium system and materially reduce basin risk.
|
|
● |
Third-mover advantage: Rift is applying the lessons from earlier basin entrants to pursue a more targeted, capital-efficient and technically disciplined exploration strategy focused on where helium is most likely to accumulate in commercial volumes.
|
|
● |
Strategically located acreage: the Upepo Project comprises 283 km² of licence acreage in southwest Tanzania, adjacent to confirmed helium discoveries within an established and highly prospective helium basin.
|
|
● |
Meaningful resource potential: the independent CPR prepared by NSAI indicates significant prospective helium resource potential, including a gross, unrisked P50 estimate of approximately 19 Bcf helium and a mean estimate of approximately 41 Bcf helium.
|
|
● |
Clear near-term catalysts: Rift is targeting EIA approval, 3D seismic-led prospect definition in summer 2026, supporting well targeting and drill programme works planned to commence in H1 2027, providing a clear pathway to further technical de-risking.
|
|
● |
Exposure to a critical commodity with favourable market fundamentals: helium is essential to a range of high-value applications, including semiconductors, medical imaging, scientific research, defence and aerospace, while global demand is projected to grow at 5-7% CAGR through to 2030 against constrained supply. Asia is the largest and fastest-growing helium import market, underlining the strategic importance of new primary helium supply.
|
|
● |
Access to key future import markets: the Upepo Project benefits from access to existing transport infrastructure, including road and rail links to the port of Dar es Salaam, supporting future export routes to major international helium import markets, with approximately 90% of global helium imports concentrated in Asia (~60%) and the EU (~30%). Tanzania is located on the eastern side of Africa, offering a clear route to Asia, the largest and fastest growing market for helium imports.
|
|
● |
Experienced team with relevant expertise: the Board, founding shareholders, senior management and technical team bring extensive experience across helium, critical minerals, natural resources, capital markets and in-country execution.
|
|
● |
Supportive local positioning: development of the Upepo Project is supported by the local community, helping to underpin responsible long-term project advancement.
|
For further information:
|
Charlie FitzRoy Russel Swarts |
Rift Helium plc |
+44 (0)20 7770 6424 Rifthelium@celicourt.uk |
