Dana Gas, Levidian Start Commercial Graphene Production in Sharjah

Dana Gas and British advanced materials company Levidian have commissioned their first LOOP 20 unit at Sharjah Graphene Park in the United Arab Emirates, marking the start of commercial graphene production there. According to Dana Gas, the unit has an annual capacity exceeding one ton. The companies are now approaching potential customers in the UAE and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council region to secure long-term graphene offtake agreements. Several major prospective customers in the UAE are testing products made with Levidian’s graphene.

The launch came four months after the partners signed a memorandum of understanding at Make it in the Emirates in May. That agreement aimed to establish Sharjah Graphene Park as a hub for advanced materials manufacturing and commercialization. The initial phase required an investment of less than $1 million to set up local production and build regional demand. Next, the partners are advancing additional LOOP 60 and LOOP 100 units under construction in the UK.

Once those larger units are commissioned, Dana Gas said annual graphene production capacity is expected to exceed 10 tons before the end of 2026. Total capital investment for that stage would reach about $2.5 million. The partners are also weighing further expansion as demand develops, with potential investment reaching $50 million. However, any additional capital expenditure depends on securing long-term customer offtake commitments and meeting the companies’ investment return requirements.

Levidian’s LOOP technology relies on microwave plasma to break methane down into solid carbon—graphene—and a hydrogen-rich gas stream. That gas stream can serve as fuel or be further processed into hydrogen. The process is designed to produce advanced materials from existing gas supplies while supporting efforts to reduce emissions. Graphene is a high-value carbon material known for its strength, light weight and conductivity, with uses in batteries, tyres, concrete, coatings and polymer products.

Dana Gas was established in 2005 and is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. The UAE-based natural gas company has exploration and production operations in Egypt, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the UAE. Its activities span the natural gas value chain, including exploration, production, processing and transportation.