D3 Energy expands South African helium footprint with major new resource certification Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

D3 Energy Ltd (ASX:D3E, OTCQX:DNRGF) has significantly expanded the scale of its South African helium and methane portfolio after securing an independently certified maiden contingent and prospective resource for its ER386 permit in the Free State Province.

The new certification lifts the company’s combined 2C recoverable helium resource across ER315, PR016 and ER386 to 35.6 billion cubic feet (BCF), representing a 65% increase on the previously certified ER315 and PR016 standalone figure.

D3 Energy’s South African Portfolio

The maiden ER386 resource was independently assessed by global reserves and resources auditor Sproule ERCE, with the permit adjoining D3’s flagship ER315 acreage and sitting within the same Free State helium fairway that has previously delivered independently verified helium concentrations of up to 8%.

The announcement further strengthens D3’s position as one of the more advanced helium-focused explorers on the ASX at a time when global supply concerns continue to draw attention to new sources of the critical gas.

Managing director and CEO David Casey said the certification reinforced the scale and quality of the broader helium province controlled by the company.

“The certification of a maiden Contingent Resource at ER386 is yet another milestone for D3 and further confirmation of the quality and scale of the helium province within which we operate in the Free State,” he said.

“The combined reserve and resource base across ER315, PR016 and ER386 provides D3 with one of the world’s most significant helium provinces and one which is becoming increasingly important given its Southern Hemisphere location and the current geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which we expect will constrain world helium supply for years to come.”

Resource base grows sharply

The maiden ER386 contingent resource includes a 2C recoverable helium estimate of 14.0 BCF and a 2C recoverable methane estimate of 228.1 BCF.

When combined with ER315 and PR016, D3’s broader portfolio now hosts:

35.6 BCF of combined 2C recoverable helium resources; 690.3 BCF of combined 2C recoverable methane resources; and 808.8 BCF of total combined 2C recoverable gas resources.

The company also reported a maiden prospective helium resource at ER386 with a 2U best estimate of 25.4 BCF, helping lift D3’s combined portfolio-wide 2U helium prospective resource to 52.5 BCF — a 94% increase over the earlier ER315 and PR016 standalone certification.

Combined Prospective Resource ER315, PR016 & ER386

The broader prospective resource inventory now includes an estimated 1.16 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas across the three permits on a 2U basis.

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Expanding Free State position

D3 controls a 479,409-acre landholding across South Africa’s Free State Province, including ER315, PR016, ER386 and several additional exploration right applications.

The ER386 permit lies along the same Virginia Fault structural corridor that hosts the company’s existing certified reserves and contingent resources, supporting D3’s view that the helium system extends across a much larger regional footprint.

Importantly, the current production right application area covers only around 15% of ER315 and roughly 9% of D3’s total acreage position, leaving substantial exploration and appraisal upside across the wider portfolio.

The resource estimates were based on reprocessed 2D seismic interpretation, historical well data and extended flow testing completed between July 2024 and March 2025 on nearby wells along the Virginia Fault system.

Development pathway taking shape

The announcement builds on recent momentum for D3, which has been advancing towards commercialisation of its Free State helium assets while also expanding its broader acreage position.

Earlier this year, the company raised $6.12 million to support drilling activities and feed studies tied to the South African project, while continuing work on its production right application for PR016.

D3 has also recently expanded its exploration footprint in the region through additional permit applications and technical cooperation permits, aiming to consolidate a district-scale helium and natural gas position.

Further drilling and seismic acquisition programs are planned as part of the ER386 exploration right application process, with exploration activities expected to commence in 2027.

The company said the expanded resource inventory positions it to play an increasingly important role in future helium supply, particularly as geopolitical instability and constrained production continue to affect global markets.

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