We believe that Tanzanian sedimentary rift basins hide substantial concentrations of helium. - Evelyne Isaack Mbede

Recent years, the application of helium has diversifed, increasing the demand and value of the gas. Helium’s greatest potential lies in its application at very low temperatures, as it is the only coolant that can reach temperatures lower than 15 K (-434ºF or -258.15°C).

The seismology unit of our department is part of a wider team including the minister of energy and other groups. We are involved in advising the government about the seismic risk.

This ability to liquefy at such low temperatures makes helium a superconductor of electricity. For example, liquid helium is used as a coolant in magnetic resonance imaging, a breakthrough technology that generates high-resolution images of the human body, avoiding the need for radiation.