Dana Gas, Levidian Commission First Graphene Production Unit at Sharjah

Dana Gas and British advanced materials company Levidian have successfully commissioned the first LOOP 20 graphene production unit at the Sharjah Graphene Park in the UAE, marking the start of commercial graphene production in the Emirate.

The initial phase represents an investment of less than $1 million and provides an annual production capacity of more than one tonne of high-quality graphene.

The project is being developed by Dana Gas PJSC, the Middle East’s largest regional private-sector natural gas company, in partnership with Levidian, a UK-based advanced materials technology company.

The newly commissioned LOOP 20 unit is now fully operational and is designed to convert methane from natural gas streams into hydrogen and solid carbon in the form of high-quality graphene using Levidian’s patented LOOP technology.

The partners are currently engaging with prospective customers across the UAE and wider GCC for long-term graphene offtake agreements. Several large local customers are also undertaking product trials using Levidian’s graphene.

The commissioning follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Dana Gas and Levidian at Make it in the Emirates in May 2026 to develop the Sharjah Graphene Park, an advanced materials manufacturing and commercialization initiative.

The partners have moved from the initial agreement to production within approximately four months, reflecting the rapid development of the project and local support for advanced manufacturing in Sharjah.

Dana Gas and Levidian are progressing the next phase of the Sharjah Graphene Park, with additional LOOP 60 and LOOP 100 units currently under construction in the UK.

Once commissioned, these units are expected to increase the combined graphene production capacity to more than 10 tonnes per year before the end of 2026.

The expansion will bring the partners’ total capital investment in the project to approximately $2.5 million.

The project also has significant longer-term expansion potential, with total investment potentially reaching approximately $50 million as production scales. Any further investment will be considered based on long-term customer offtake commitments and targeted investment returns.

Levidian’s patented LOOP technology uses microwave plasma to crack methane, producing hydrogen and solid carbon in the form of high-quality graphene.

The technology is intended to create higher-value materials from existing natural gas streams, opening new commercial opportunities for natural gas that might otherwise be underutilized while supporting emissions-reduction efforts.

Graphene is a high-value advanced carbon material known for its strength, light weight and electrical and thermal conductivity. Potential applications include batteries, tyres, concrete, coatings and polymer products.

Through the Sharjah Graphene Park, Dana Gas and Levidian aim to establish a reliable regional supply of graphene and support its adoption across key industries, including construction, polymers, coatings and energy.