EIA Certificate Awarded for 3D Seismic

Rift Helium PLC

02 September 2026

 

2 September 2026

Rift Helium plc

("Rift", "Rift Helium" or the "Company")

Environmental Impact Assessment Certificate Awarded for 3D Seismic and up to Three Exploration Wells

Rift Helium plc (AIM: RIFT), the primary helium exploration company focused on the Upepo Project in Tanzania's proven Rukwa Basin, is pleased to announce that it has received an Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") Certificate covering its planned 3D seismic programme and the drilling of up to three exploration wells at Upepo.

Highlights

• EIA spans the next two exploration stages: the Certificate covers Rift's planned 3D seismic programme and the drilling of up to three exploration wells at Upepo.

• 3D seismic is the next catalyst: preparatory work is underway, with survey commencement planned later this year to define and rank priority drilling targets ahead of the planned H1 2027 exploration campaign.

• Disciplined capital allocation: the 3D programme is designed to reduce subsurface uncertainty before drilling and focus capital on the highest-priority structures.

• Differentiated primary helium exposure: Rift holds prospecting licences covering 283 km² in Tanzania's proven Rukwa Basin, adjacent to confirmed helium discoveries, and is targeting primary helium independent of hydrocarbon production.

• Exposure to high-value end markets: helium is essential to semiconductor manufacturing, MRI, aerospace and emerging quantum technologies, with a successful Upepo development having potential strategic relevance to Asian markets.

Charles FitzRoy, CEO of Rift Helium, commented:

"Securing an EIA that covers both our 3D seismic programme and up to three exploration wells is a particularly important milestone for Rift. It means the environmental assessment now covers the two principal stages of the exploration programme we set out at IPO: first, acquiring the data to identify the best drilling targets; and second, testing those targets through drilling.

"The Rift investment case remains straightforward. We are targeting primary helium rather than a hydrocarbon by-product across 283 km² in Tanzania's proven Rukwa Basin, adjacent to confirmed helium discoveries. Helium is critical to some of the world's most advanced industries, from semiconductors and MRI to aerospace and emerging quantum technologies, while global supply remains concentrated and largely linked to hydrocarbon production. Successful exploration at Upepo has the potential to establish a new, strategically located source of primary helium from Tanzania.

"Our plan is deliberately disciplined: acquire 3D seismic, use the data to reduce uncertainty and rank the strongest structures, then focus drilling capital on the best targets. With the EIA now secured and preparatory work for the 3D programme underway, our immediate focus is execution and delivering the catalysts that progressively de-risk Upepo as we move towards drilling in H1 2027. Today's award is another tangible delivery point against the plan we set out to shareholders.

"We would like to thank the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), the Ministry of Minerals, the Mining Commission, our local communities, and Regional, District, and Ward authorities in Songwe for their constructive engagement throughout the process."

EIA Award and Next Steps

The EIA Certificate follows a comprehensive environmental and social assessment process and provides environmental approval for the Company's planned 3D seismic programme and the drilling of up to three exploration wells at Upepo. The award therefore covers the environmental assessment for the two principal stages of Rift's near-term exploration programme.

Preparatory work for the 3D seismic programme is already underway and progressing well, with survey commencement planned later this year. Following acquisition, Rift intends to process and interpret the data to define and rank priority drilling targets ahead of its planned H1 2027 exploration drilling campaign.

Rift Investment Proposition

Helium is essential to high-value, technologically advanced applications, yet much of global supply is produced as a by-product of hydrocarbon production and is concentrated in a limited number of producing regions. Rift's strategy is to discover and develop dedicated primary helium resources from Tanzania's proven Rukwa Basin, independent of hydrocarbon production.

The Upepo Project combines a 283 km² strategic licence position adjacent to confirmed helium discoveries; a proven helium system; a funded, data-led 3D seismic programme designed to reduce uncertainty before capital is committed to wells; and a clear sequence of operational catalysts through 2026 and 2027. In the event of exploration success, Rift's objective is to progress towards commercial production and establish a new source of primary helium from Tanzania with strategic relevance to high-value international markets, including Asia.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended.

For further information, please visit www.rifthelium.com or contact:

Rift Helium plc Charles FitzRoy, CEO & Director Russel Swarts, CFO & Director	c/o Celicourt [phone] [e-mail]
Strand Hanson (Financial & Nominated Adviser) Ritchie Balmer Rob Patrick	[phone]
SI Capital (Joint Broker) Nick Emerson	[phone]
Zeus Capital (Joint Broker) Simon Johnson James Bavister	[phone]
Greenwood Capital (Equity Capital Markets Adviser) John Prior Nick Orgill	[e-mail]
Celicourt Communications (Financial Communications) Mark Antelme Philip Dennis	[phone] [e-mail]

About Rift Helium:

Rift Helium is building the primary helium supply the future demands. Helium is essential to high-value applications including semiconductor manufacturing, MRI, aerospace and emerging quantum technologies, while much of global supply is linked to hydrocarbon production and concentrated among a relatively small number of sources. Rift's strategy is to discover and develop dedicated primary helium resources that are not dependent on hydrocarbon production. The Company's 283 km² of strategically positioned licences are located in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin, adjacent to confirmed helium discoveries. The helium system is proven and Rift is applying a disciplined, data-led exploration strategy to identify where helium has accumulated and focus capital on the highest-priority structures.

Rift is progressing a catalyst-led exploration programme: 3D seismic in 2026 to define and rank priority targets, followed by cost-efficient exploration drilling in H1 2027 to test those structures and target economically recoverable primary helium reservoirs. The EIA Certificate covers drilling of up to three exploration wells. In the event of exploration success, Rift's objective is to progress toward commercial production and establish a new source of primary helium from Tanzania, with strategic relevance to high-value international markets including Asia.

 

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