Renergen selects He4u consortium for Phase 2 of Virginia Gas Project

South African energy company Renergen has awarded preferred bidder status to the He4u consortium for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for Phase 2 of its flagship Tetra4 LNG and helium liquefaction project. The consortium includes U.S.-based Chart Industries Inc., South Africa’s Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon Ltd (WBHO), and Aurex Constructors.

The announcement marks a major milestone for Renergen’s Virginia Gas Project, which is poised to become a globally significant source of helium and a key supplier of liquefied natural gas to South Africa’s domestic energy market. The EPC contractor appointment is one of the final conditions required to unlock project financing from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

Renergen selects He4u consortium for Phase 2 of Virginia Gas Project. (Image: Renergen)

The He4u consortium’s proposal features Chart Industries’ liquefaction technology for both LNG and helium—positioning the U.S. firm’s engineering capabilities at the center of the next phase of the development.

“Chart Industries is pleased to have been selected by Renergen as technology partner for Tetra4’s helium and LNG liquefaction requirements,” said Jillian Evanko, CEO of Chart Industries. “We look forward to providing our world-class technologies and engineering solutions at scale to Tetra4 as the company moves toward implementation of the next phase of the Virginia Gas Project.”

Chart Industries, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker GTLS, is a global leader in highly engineered cryogenic equipment used across the industrial gas and clean energy supply chains. With operations in over 50 countries, Chart’s systems are widely deployed in hydrogen, LNG, and atmospheric gas projects worldwide.

South African construction leaders WBHO and Aurex Constructors will manage site development and infrastructure build-out. Both companies bring decades of experience in complex industrial and energy-sector projects in the region. WBHO, listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange, is one of the largest contractors in Southern Africa with expertise across civil, building, and energy infrastructure. The company holds a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor status.

Aurex Constructors, a Level 2 B-BBEE contributor, specializes in multidisciplinary engineering services including mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and piping (MEIP) solutions. With over 40 years of experience, the company has executed major projects in power generation, petrochemical, and renewable energy sectors across South Africa.

“We are excited to have such an experienced and technically strong team executing our Phase 2 project on a turnkey basis,” said Stefano Marani, CEO of Renergen. “We have every confidence that the skillset they bring to the table—and when combined with Worley, who will act as Owners Engineer—reduces the execution risk tremendously on Phase 2. This represents another major milestone, and one of very few remaining towards commencement of construction.”

Phase 2 of the Virginia Gas Project aims to scale up LNG production capacity and significantly boost helium output from Renergen’s unique natural gas reserves in South Africa’s Free State province. The project is the only one of its kind in the country, and among the very few globally that will produce helium at commercial scale outside of the United States, Qatar, and Russia.

Renergen’s development has attracted strategic interest due to the global shortage of helium, a critical input for medical imaging, semiconductor manufacturing, and aerospace applications. In parallel, the project is designed to deliver cleaner fuel in the form of LNG to displace diesel in South African trucking and mining operations.

With Phase 1 already operational and producing both LNG and helium at small scale, Phase 2 will expand the facility’s output dramatically—positioning Renergen as a pivotal player in global helium markets and a domestic supplier of low-emissions energy.

The He4u contract award comes after months of due diligence and negotiation, and follows the earlier confirmation of financing support from the DFC, which conditionally approved a senior debt facility to fund the project’s next phase. With the EPC partner now selected and owner’s engineer Worley engaged, Renergen is expected to finalize contracts and begin construction in the near term.

The Virginia Gas Project is widely viewed as a bellwether for South Africa’s onshore gas development potential. It is the only project currently producing commercial quantities of LNG and helium in sub-Saharan Africa.

Renergen’s collaboration with globally recognized engineering firms and local industrial partners underscores the project’s strategic importance—not only as a commercial venture, but also as a model for technology transfer, job creation, and industrial diversification in South Africa’s energy sector.

With execution risks reduced and core contracts in place, Renergen’s Phase 2 is now positioned to transition from development to delivery. The company expects to make additional announcements as it reaches financial close and begins full-scale construction.