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ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Dana Gas, an ADX-listed company and British advanced-materials company Levidian have commissioned the first LOOP 20 unit at the Sharjah Graphene Park, marking the start of industrial graphene production in the emirate, according to a statement.
The unit is fully operational and has the capacity to produce more than one tonne of high-quality graphene annually.
The two companies have begun discussions with prospective customers in the UAE and the wider GCC regarding long-term agreements for the purchase of graphene. Several large prospective customers in the region are also conducting product trials using Levidian’s graphene, the statement said.
The commissioning came four months after Dana Gas and Levidian signed a memorandum of understanding at the Make it in the Emirates event in May to develop the Sharjah Graphene Park as an advanced-materials manufacturing and commercialisation initiative.
The initial phase, centred on the LOOP 20 unit, involved an investment of less than $1 million. It is intended to establish commercial production in Sharjah and support the development of regional demand.
Dana Gas and Levidian are progressing with the next phase of the project, with additional LOOP 60 and LOOP 100 units under construction in the UK.
Once commissioned, the additional units are expected to increase graphene production capacity to more than 10 tonnes annually before the end of 2026, taking total capital investment to approximately $2.5 million.
“The successful commissioning of our first graphene production unit at the Sharjah Graphene Park, just four months after signing our MoU with Levidian, further demonstrates Dana Gas’ track record of delivering projects on time,” said Richard Hall, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Gas.
“It also reflects our commitment to creating additional value from natural gas while supporting industrial innovation in the UAE,” he added.
Hall said the start of production, construction of additional capacity and interest from prospective customers provided a platform to expand the project in line with commercial demand.
“We believe this disciplined approach has the potential to create long-term value for Dana Gas and its shareholders,” he said.
The project could eventually attract total investment of approximately $50 million as production increases. Any further capital expenditure would depend on long-term customer commitments and appropriate investment returns, according to the statement.
Levidian’s patented LOOP technology uses microwave plasma to break down methane, producing hydrogen and solid carbon in the form of high-quality graphene.
The process creates higher-value materials from existing natural gas supplies and opens commercial opportunities for gas that might otherwise be under-utilised, while supporting efforts to reduce emissions.
Graphene is a form of carbon valued for its strength, light weight and conductivity. Its potential applications include batteries, vehicle tyres, concrete, coatings and polymer products.
“The commissioning of LOOP 20 marks an important step in establishing graphene production in the UAE,” said Alex Holden, Chief Executive Officer of Levidian.
“With further LOOP capacity already under construction, our focus now is on supporting the development of graphene applications and long-term customer relationships across the UAE and wider GCC,” he added.
Dana Gas and Levidian aim to establish a regional supply of graphene and support its use in sectors including construction, polymers, coatings and energy.
