Mr. Chris Bakker reports

AVANTI HELIUM URGES U.S. GOVERNMENT TO DESIGNATE HELIUM AS A CRITICAL MINERAL AMID RISING SUPPLY RISKS

Avanti Helium Corp. has reiterated its September, 2025, request that helium be formally designated as a critical mineral by the United States, highlighting growing geopolitical risks to global helium supply and the urgent need to secure reliable North American production.

Helium is a strategic material with no practical substitutes, essential to industries central to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security, including semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, space launch systems, medical imaging (MRI), advanced manufacturing, scientific research and quantum computing.

Despite its critical importance, the United States is becoming increasingly dependent on foreign supply.

Global helium supply is highly concentrated, with a large portion of non-U.S. production originating from Qatar and Russia, regions exposed to geopolitical and trade disruptions. At the same time, U.S. domestic production has declined from approximately 82 million cubic metres in 2020 to 68 million cubic metres in 2024 while demand continues to accelerate.

With the Federal Helium Reserve sold to a foreign company, supplies being depleted and global demand forecast to nearly double over the next decade, Avanti believes the United States could soon transition to a structural helium supply deficit, increasing reliance on foreign imports for a resource critical to health care, advanced technology, and defence systems. A strong domestic exploration sector can alleviate this risk.

National security and strategic supply

Helium plays an essential role across multiple U.S. defence and aerospace applications, including:

• Rocket propulsion and missile systems;
• Space launch operations;
• Advanced cryogenic sensors and defence research;
• Nuclear material detection technologies;
• Naval deep-sea operations;
• Persistent battlefield communication systems.

Disruptions to helium supply could have direct impacts on U.S. defence readiness, semiconductor manufacturing and medical infrastructure.

Domestic supply is critical

Avanti believes expanding North American helium production is essential to ensuring long-term supply security for the United States.

The company's Sweetgrass helium project in Montana, expected to enter production in 2026, is designed to provide a reliable domestic source of helium supply directly to the U.S. market.

Unlike many global helium sources located in geopolitically sensitive regions, Avanti's production is located in one of the most stable energy jurisdictions in the world, supporting the development of a secure North American helium supply chain.

Chief executive officer commentary

Chris Bakker, chief executive officer of Avanti Helium, commented: "Helium is not just an industrial gas -- it is a strategic resource that underpins critical industries across the U.S. economy, from health care and semiconductors to aerospace and national defence.

"With global supply increasingly concentrated in geopolitically sensitive regions, the United States must prioritize the development of secure domestic and North American helium supply.

"Projects like Sweetgrass represent a rare opportunity to strengthen U.S. supply security while supporting industries that are essential to economic growth and national security."

Request for critical mineral designation

Avanti previously submitted a formal request to the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Geological Survey to include helium on the U.S. critical minerals list under the criteria established by the Energy Act of 2020.

The company believes helium clearly meets all statutory requirements, given:

• Its indispensable role in national security and advanced technology;
• Increasing supply chain vulnerability;
• The absence of viable substitutes.

Avanti respectfully reiterates its request that helium be formally designated as a U.S. critical mineral, a move that would help accelerate investment in domestic supply and strengthen the country's long-term strategic resource security.

About Avanti Helium Corp.

Avanti is focused on the exploration, development and production of helium across Western Canada and the United States. Avanti's experienced oil and gas exploration and production team is actively targeting helium trapped in structures to meet increasing global demand for an irreplaceable and scarce element critical to advanced technology, medical, aerospace and semiconductor industries.

We seek Safe Harbor.