Russia and Ukraine scavenged neon from the air as a non-economic by product of the large amount of Oxygen for Steel production (separated via liquifying eir wit

Russia and Ukraine scavenged neon from the air as a non-economic by product of the large amount of Oxygen for Steel production (separated via liquifying eir with it's neon content) by using their nuclear electrical power. They lost $$ on it, but they wanted US$ and other hard currencies as the Ruble (AKA Razbuznik) was a captive more or less slave currency for sov-bloc trade. Ukraine and others were gradually hardening their currency, so there was an inexorable upwards pressure on the true cost of neon. There is no true shortage of neon, but there is a true cost. Not sure how this will impact chip costs - it may be a minor cost, but the absence is critical. Any large liquid air plant can scavenge neon - at a cost, so a new equilibrium will evolve. Perhaps management of neon process leakage will help? The decline of neon signs caused by LEDs will release that neon for chips.