As geopolitical disruptions remove one-third of global helium supply from the market and Europe accelerates its quest for strategic autonomy in critical raw materials, AdTerra is reinforcing its integrated energy platform — adding a decisive building block to a portfolio spanning geothermal energy, lithium extraction, long-duration storage and now, strategic industrial molecules across Europe and North America.
GENEVA, 13 APRIL 2026 – Ad Terra today announced the acquisition of a majority stake in 45-8 ENERGY, a French company specialised in the exploration, production andrecycling of strategic industrial gases. 45-8 ENERGY has established itself as the leading producer of helium in France and Western Europe, and one of the continent's most advanced players in natural hydrogen exploration.
A CRITICAL MOMENT FOR HELIUM
Following reported disruptions to Qatar's Ras Laffan facility in March 2026 – whichalone accounted for roughly one-third of global helium output – that supply has effectively been removed from the market. Spot prices have doubled. Thesemiconductor industry, which requires ultra-high-purity helium for chip fabrication,faces acute supply constraints just as just as some 50 new fabrication plants are currently coming online or expected to do so by end of 2026 (SEMI World FabForecast, 2025). Healthcare, aerospace and quantum computing are equally affected.In this context, developing new, diversified and European-based sources of helium isno longer a niche ambition – it is a strategic imperative. 45-8 ENERGY's operational capacity in France and its near-term production project in Germany directly addressthis gap.
45-8 ENERGY: HELIUM, NATURAL HYDROGEN, AND RECYCLING SOLUTIONS
45-8 ENERGY brings a distinctive combination of capabilities. Since 2024, it has operated France's first helium pilot production unit, a milestone for Western Europe. Its exploration portfolio spans France, Germany, the Balkans and the United States.
In parallel, the company is advancing natural hydrogen exploration in partnership with Storengy in France, at the forefront of what industry analysts project to be a USD 9–15billion market by the early 2030s (Wood Mackenzie, 2025).
45-8 ENERGY also brings helium recycling and circularity capabilities under active development – aligned with the EU Critical Raw Materials Act's objective that at least15% of strategic materials be recycled domestically by 2030. This positions Ad Terra not only as an upstream explorer and producer, but also as a contributor to resource circularity.
A LOW-CARBON GROUP BUILT FOR THE LONG TERM
The acquisition of 45-8 ENERGY is not an isolated move. It reflects a deliberate and coherent group-building strategy — one designed to address the structural shifts reshaping the global energy landscape.
In a world marked by geopolitical tensions, fragile critical materials supply chains, accelerating decarbonisation requirements and the rapid industrialisation of artificialintelligence, Ad Terra is building a platform designed for resilience, sustainability and long-term value creation. Each of the Group's operating companies contributes to alower-carbon energy system – whether through renewable geothermal heat, cleanerlithium supply chains, utility-scale storage, or natural hydrogen and helium recycling asalternatives to carbon-intensive industrial processes. The acquisition of 45-8 ENERGYreinforces the Group's conviction that the transition requires diversified resources,industrial depth, technological innovation and a firm commitment to environmental responsibility.
"The world is entering a new era for strategic resources. Helium supply chains have been disrupted overnight, natural hydrogen is emerging as a transformative energy source, and Europe is accelerating its push for raw material sovereignty. At the same time, artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation toreal industrial use cases, making data quality, validation and faster decision-making more critical than ever. This acquisition places Ad Terra at the heart of these converging trends. With 45-8 ENERGY alongside ourother companies, we are building a truly integratedGroup – one that combines subsurface expertise,industrial execution and the ambition to lead thetransition from exploration to recycling."
BENJAMIN SALLIER | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & FOUNDER, AD TERRA
STRENGTHENING AN INTEGRATED INTERNATIONAL ENERGY PORTFOLIO
Within Ad Terra, each company contributes a distinct and complementary capability, forming a coherent value chain from subsurface exploration to resource circularity:
- Swiss Geo Energy: deep geothermal energy and mineral recovery from geothermal fluids. Operating in Switzerland, the company currently manages three assets, with a major subsurface imagery acquisition campaign in progressand a deep well planned for 2028.
- LiCan Resources: direct lithium extraction from underground brines. Operating in Saskatchewan, Canada, LiCan drilled its first well in January 2026, marking a key milestone in the development of sustainable lithium supply chains.
- Arkadia ENERGY: long-duration energy storage for utility-scale renewable assets, with operations in Europe.45-8 ENERGY: helium and natural hydrogen exploration, production and recycling capabilities under active development, with projects across France, Germany, the Balkans and the United States. The company's natural hydrogen programme is conducted in partnership with Storengy in southwestern France. From geothermal heat and critical minerals to long-duration storage and strategic gases, these four businesses are not parallel bets — they are interlocking pieces of a single industrial vision.
EXPANDING A GLOBAL FOOTPRINT
The acquisition of 45-8 ENERGY also marks a significant step in Ad Terra's geographic expansion. With operations now spanning Western Europe, the Balkans, North America and beyond, the Group has moved from a European-rooted platform to a truly global one.
Headquartered in Geneva, with an office in Kuala Lumpur serving the Asia-Pacific region and representations across North America, Latin America, the Middle East and APAC, Ad Terra is positioned to identify and develop opportunities wherever the energy transition demands them. The Group represents more than 100 professionals worldwide and continues to grow through both organic development and targeted acquisitions — guided by the same conviction that strategic resources, industrial depth and long-term thinking are the foundations of lasting value.
