Tibanna

For other uses, see Tibanna.

"Yeah, a tibanna gas mine. Lando conned somebody out of it."

―Han Solo^[4]

Tibanna was a gas used as fuel and in many other ways. As such, it was a valuable resource. Whereas its gaseous state was also identified as tibanna gas, it could also exist in a liquid state, liquid tibanna.

Characteristics[]

"I'm trying to tell you, you're not going to get anywhere without fuel. Bespin and the other systems in the Anoat sector provide a significant source of Tibanna gas. The Empire knows the entire galaxy runs on Tibanna gas. If they control the fuel, they control the galaxy. And it doesn't matter how many emperors you blow up-as long as they have the goods, they're not defeated."

―Landonis Balthazar Calrissian^[1]

TibannaReserves-SWZ — Tibanna gas canisters

A type of highly reactive gas^[2] that could easily explode,^[3] tibanna was a valuable resource^[1] with a number of uses, such as being used within a starship's hyperdrive, as a coolant for repulsorlifts,^[2] and as a fuel, for which it was particularly notable.^[1] Indeed, liquid tibanna could be used as an energy source for heating.^[3] Also of major importance was its usefulness in weaponry, such as tibanna gas's ability to supercharge ionised energy bolts. Tibanna was used in weaponry as small as hand-held blasters and as large as starship weapons.^[2]

Whereas in its gaseous state it could be identified as "tibanna gas,"^[5] tibanna in its liquid form was accordingly known as "liquid tibanna."^[3] Tibanna gas was found in high quantities in the Anoat sector, which, accordingly, became a major distributor of tibanna gas. Within the sector was^[1] the gas giant Bespin, where tibanna was found at high pressure in the upper atmosphere. The metropolis of Cloud City, which floated high above the gaseous surface of Bespin, was a mining colony where tibanna was harvested and processed for export.^[6] The planet Kril'Dor was another source of tibanna.^[7]

Once processed, tibanna could be suspended into a block of frozen, super-strong carbonite and safely transported on a repulsor sled.^[8] The Muqularan species breathed tibanna, but they had their own name for the substance.^[5] A rarer and purer form of tibanna gas was known as interstellar gas, and was highly sought after by hyperspace scouts.^[9]

History[]

"A shipping incident on the Corellian Trade Spine has caused a price hike for Tibanna Gas in the Outer Rim. Imperial trade experts assure importers that prices will stabilize within a month."

―Dorna Parros, HoloNet News — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[10]

During the High Republic Era, the Legacy Run was carrying a shipment of supercooled liquid tibanna at the time of its destruction.^[11] The highly reactive nature of tibanna made it quite explosive, a fact that was used by clone troopers to destroy a Republic outpost on the moon of Rishi that had been taken over by Separatist battle droids during the Clone Wars. This was done to stop the base from transmitting the all clear signal, which had been hardwired by BX-series droid commandos. Without the signal it was clear something was wrong, and this stopped a planned Separatist attack on Kamino,^[3] where the Republic clone troopers were created.^[12]

Grand Admiral Thrawn discovered tibanna gas canisters as a Lieutenant when he, Ensign Eli Vanto, and other members of the Blood Crow's crew investigated a ship that had sent out a distress signal and were betrayed by smuggler known as Nightswan after revealing their plan to cut the tibanna free with Mark One buzz-droids.^[7]

After the Galactic Empire suffered a major defeat at Endor, Governor Ubrik Adelhard ordered the lockdown of the Anoat sector.^[13] The blockade threatened the galaxy's supply of tibanna, and therefore its supply of fuel, due to the sector's high export of the gas.^[1] However, with the blockade, Cloud City became the only place where tibanna could be found within, and the demand for that gas rose dramatically. Consequently, the Trade Spine League made money transporting tibanna to various worlds in the Anoat sector. The Galactic Empire, however, intended to take Cloud City in order to cut off the sector's population from their much-needed tibanna supplies.^[13]