Helium One Begins Pump Testing at ITW-1 in Tanzania, Advancing a Commercial Helium Discovery

Helium One Global Ltd has started a new, high-impact phase of well testing at its Itumbula West-1 (ITW-1) helium discovery in the Southern Rukwa Helium Project, located in south-west Tanzania. The company confirmed that Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) testing has now commenced, following completion of wireline logging and full mobilisation of equipment and personnel to site.

This matters because the ITW-1 discovery has already demonstrated helium at meaningful concentrations during earlier testing, and the next step is to determine whether the well can deliver higher, steadier flow rates from deeper zones—information that is critical for moving from “discovery” to “development.” In simple terms: the company is now trying to “pull harder” from the reservoir in a controlled way, so it can measure how much helium can be produced and how reliably it can be produced.

What Exactly Started: ESP Testing at the ITW-1 Well

According to the company’s update dated 19 January 2026, Helium One has started the ESP testing phase at ITW-1 after finishing wireline logging and preparing the site for operations. The company said all required checks and verification procedures have been completed for both downhole tools and surface control equipment before deployment.

The ESP assembly is currently running in hole (being installed down the well) and will be positioned at a set depth to support further evaluation of the fractured Basement and Karoo intervals. The goal is to increase flow rates and improve production performance from these deeper geological zones.

Once the pump is installed at the planned depth and the tubing hanger has been tested successfully, the company expects to run a final function test. After that, the well can be opened and the pump activated. Helium One anticipates this testing phase will take approximately two to three weeks.

Why Pump Testing Is a Big Deal for a Helium Discovery

A discovery is only the beginning. Investors, regulators, and potential buyers want answers to practical questions:

• Can the well produce consistently?
• How much fluid and gas can it deliver over time?
• Does performance improve when the well is assisted by pumping?
• Which zones contribute most to helium flow?

ESP testing helps answer these questions by creating a controlled way to increase movement of fluids in the wellbore and stimulate flow from target intervals. In Helium One’s case, the company is focusing on deeper zones where fractures can act like natural pathways that let helium-bearing fluids and gases move more freely.

Just as importantly, pumping can help produce a clearer data set. Better data can support future engineering decisions, including whether additional wells are needed, how surface facilities might be designed, and how fast production could ramp up.

Project Background: Southern Rukwa Moves Further Into Appraisal and Development

Helium One describes itself as the primary helium explorer in Tanzania. Its flagship Southern Rukwa project sits within the Southern Rukwa Rift Basin in south-west Tanzania. The company says the project has entered a full appraisal and development stage after the 2023/24 drilling campaign proved a helium discovery at ITW-1.

Earlier work at ITW-1 included an extended well test (EWT) that successfully flowed helium to surface. The company reported that the well flowed 5.5% helium continually to surface in Q3 2024.

That earlier success is a key reason why the market is paying attention to this next testing phase. It’s one thing to detect helium; it’s another thing to prove that the reservoir can deliver helium at rates that make a business case work.

From Discovery to Mining Licence: A Critical Step Already Achieved

Helium projects often require clear permitting pathways, because development involves drilling, surface installations, and ongoing operations. Helium One said it filed a Mining Licence (ML) application with the Tanzania Mining Commission in September 2024. The company added that the 480 km² Mining Licence was formally awarded in July 2025.

This matters for two reasons:

1. Regulatory certainty: A mining licence can provide a clearer framework for long-term development planning.
2. Commercial readiness: Licensing progress often signals that a company is preparing to move toward production, not just exploration.

What the ESP Programme Is Targeting: Basement and Karoo Intervals

Helium One stated that the ESP will be positioned to allow further evaluation of two key intervals:

• Fractured Basement
• Karoo intervals

These zones are important because fracture networks can help improve the movement of fluids and gases underground. The company’s plan is to use the pump to increase flow rates and improve helium output from these deeper geological targets.

In practice, the company will be watching how the well responds over time—pressure behaviour, production stability, and any changes in produced fluid and gas composition. Those details can influence how future wells are designed and how production facilities would handle helium separation and processing.

What Happens Next: A Two-to-Three Week Window of High-Value Data

Helium One expects the ESP testing phase to run for two to three weeks.

During this period, investors typically look for:

• Operational updates confirming the pump is installed, tested, and running as planned
• Flow rate information (often described as improved or stabilised output)
• Confirmation of target interval performance—whether the Basement and Karoo zones contribute meaningful flows
• Next-step guidance—what the company plans to do after the test window ends

The company has said it will provide further updates as operations progress.

Why Helium Supply Matters: The Bigger Market Context

Helium is not just “party balloon gas.” It’s used in high-value industries, including:

• Medical imaging (cooling for MRI systems)
• Semiconductor manufacturing
• Space and aerospace applications
• Scientific research and specialised instrumentation

Because helium is difficult to substitute in many critical uses—and because supply can be tight—new potential sources can attract significant attention. Helium One positions itself as part of the effort to address a “supply-constrained helium market,” supported by its Tanzania focus and its interest in a US development project.

Helium One’s Wider Portfolio: Tanzania Plus Colorado

Helium One’s update also highlighted that the company holds helium licences across two continents. In addition to Tanzania, it has a 50% working interest in the Galactica-Pegasus helium development project in Las Animas County, Colorado, USA, operated by Blue Star Helium Ltd.

The company stated that the Colorado project completed a six-well development drilling campaign in H1 2025, and that initial Galactica wells were tied into production in Q4 2025, with further wells expected to come onstream in 2026 for helium and CO₂ production. It also cited helium concentrations up to 3.3% He in the target formation.

For investors, this “two-pronged” footprint can be seen as a blend of higher-upside exploration/appraisal (Tanzania) plus a development pathway (Colorado) that may offer nearer-term operational milestones—though each project has its own technical and regulatory realities.

Investment Watchlist: What to Monitor During ESP Testing

As this pump-testing window unfolds, the clearest signals usually come from operational updates rather than broad market commentary. Key items to watch include:

1) Confirmation the ESP Is Set and Running Smoothly

The company described a sequence: set the ESP at depth → test tubing hanger → final function test → open well and activate the pump.

2) Indications of Higher Flow Rates

The stated objective is improved evaluation and “increased flow rates and enhanced helium production” from deeper zones.

3) Any Notes on Zone Contribution (Basement vs Karoo)

Understanding which interval contributes most can shape development strategy—where to target perforations, how to plan future wells, and how to optimise production infrastructure.

4) Next-Step Planning After the Test Window

After a two-to-three week programme, companies often outline follow-on work such as longer-duration testing, engineering studies, or additional drilling plans—depending on results.

FAQs About Helium One’s Pump Testing in Tanzania

1) What is Helium One testing right now?

Helium One has commenced Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) testing at the ITW-1 well in its Southern Rukwa Helium Project in Tanzania.

2) Why use an ESP instead of natural flow?

An ESP can help increase flow rates and provide more detailed performance data from deeper intervals, supporting appraisal work and helping determine how a well might perform under production-style conditions.

3) How long will the testing take?

The company expects the ESP testing phase to take approximately two to three weeks.

4) What zones are being evaluated?

The ESP programme is aimed at evaluating the fractured Basement and Karoo intervals, where the company hopes increased flow can support enhanced helium production.

5) Has Helium One already proven helium at this well?

Helium One reports that an earlier extended well test successfully flowed helium to surface and that ITW-1 flowed 5.5% helium continually to surface in Q3 2024.

6) Does the project have a mining licence?

Yes. Helium One said it applied for a Mining Licence in September 2024, and the 480 km² Mining Licence was formally awarded in July 2025.

7) Does Helium One have other helium assets besides Tanzania?

Yes. The company also holds a 50% working interest in the Galactica-Pegasus helium development project in Colorado, USA, operated by Blue Star Helium Ltd, with initial wells tied into production in Q4 2025 and additional wells expected in 2026.

Conclusion: A Practical Step Toward Commercialisation

The start of ESP testing at ITW-1 marks a meaningful transition from “we found helium” to “can we produce it at stronger rates and with more predictable performance?” With equipment verified, the pump being deployed, and a defined two-to-three week testing period ahead, Helium One is entering a data-driven phase that could shape the next chapter of the Southern Rukwa project.

If the programme delivers improved flow performance from the fractured Basement and Karoo intervals, it could strengthen the project’s commercial narrative and help inform development planning under the already-awarded Mining Licence. Either way, the results should provide clearer evidence about reservoir behaviour—exactly the kind of detail that can reduce uncertainty and guide smart, staged decision-making.

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