2026-10-08
- Dana Gas PJSC and UK-based Levidian reportedly commissioned the first LOOP 20 graphene production unit at Sharjah Graphene Park in the UAE, with the news published on 7 October 2026.
- The unit is said to produce more than one tonne of high-quality graphene per year, on an initial investment of less than $1 million.
- Levidian’s patented LOOP technology uses microwave plasma to crack methane from natural gas streams into hydrogen and solid carbon in the form of graphene.
- LOOP 60 and LOOP 100 units under construction in the UK are expected to lift combined capacity above 10 tonnes per year before the end of 2026.
- The partners are reportedly seeking long-term offtake agreements across the UAE and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), while several large local customers are running product trials.
Dana Gas PJSC and Levidian, a UK-based advanced materials company, have commissioned the first LOOP 20 graphene production unit at Sharjah Graphene Park in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a 7 October 2026 report by SaudiGulf Projects. The milestone is described as the start of commercial graphene production in the Emirate. The unit applies Levidian’s patented technology to split methane from natural gas streams into hydrogen and solid carbon in the form of graphene, with an initial investment of less than $1 million and capacity of more than one tonne per year. The partners reportedly moved from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in May 2026 at Make it in the Emirates to production in about four months. Although the unit is small, it is drawing attention because a gas company’s methane resource is now being converted into a high-value carbon material at an operating site.
The project is led by Dana Gas PJSC, described as the largest regional private-sector natural gas company in the Middle East, and Levidian, a UK-based advanced materials technology company. The production asset is a LOOP 20 unit installed at Sharjah Graphene Park in the UAE, and it is reported to be the first unit of that model to enter operation.
The process is based on Levidian’s patented LOOP technology. It reportedly uses microwave plasma to crack methane taken from natural gas streams. The reaction yields hydrogen and solid carbon, and the solid carbon is recovered as graphene. In other words, the methane molecule is separated into a gas and a carbon material rather than being burned.
Graphene is described as strong, lightweight, and electrically and thermally conductive. The partners cite potential uses in batteries, tyres, concrete, coatings, and polymer products, and they aim to supply key sectors including construction, polymers, coatings, and energy.
On the commercial side, the partners are seeking long-term graphene offtake agreements with prospective customers across the UAE and the wider GCC. Several large local customers are reportedly running product trials with Levidian’s graphene.
- Operating asset: one LOOP 20 graphene production unit at Sharjah Graphene Park, UAE
- Capacity: more than one tonne of high-quality graphene per year
- Initial investment: less than $1 million
- Expansion: LOOP 60 and LOOP 100 units are under construction in the UK; once commissioned, combined capacity is expected to exceed 10 tonnes per year before the end of 2026
- Total capital investment outlook: about $2.5 million
- Long-term investment: could reach about $50 million, although further investment depends on long-term customer offtake commitments and targeted returns
- Time from agreement to production: about four months after the May 2026 MoU
At the MoU stage in May 2026, the partners presented an indicative plan in which Phase 1 would deploy initial LOOP systems in Sharjah with indicative graphene capacity of about 15 tonnes per year. Indicative investment was given as $2 million to $5 million for the initial phase, $5 million to $50 million for early expansion, and potentially more than $50 million for further growth. The plan was described as conditional on demand and Phase 1 results supporting expansion into a multi-unit production cluster.
Timeline
- January 2025: ADNOC Gas and Baker Hughes announced the installation of Levidian’s LOOP technology at the Habshan Gas Processing Plant in Abu Dhabi, described as the first deployment of LOOP at an operational gas processing site. The pilot is reported to produce more than 1 tonne per year of graphene and 1 tonne per year of hydrogen. The Dana Gas and Levidian partnership, under which Dana Gas piloted LOOP in its operations, was also first announced that month.
- 5 May 2026: Dana Gas and Levidian signed an MoU at Make it in the Emirates in Abu Dhabi to develop Sharjah Graphene Park. Representatives of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Mubadala Investment Company, Invest in Sharjah, and the UK government witnessed the signing.
- 7 October 2026: The first LOOP 20 graphene production unit was reported operational at Sharjah Graphene Park.
- Before the end of 2026: LOOP 60 and LOOP 100 units under construction in the UK are expected to bring combined capacity above 10 tonnes per year.
Note
- Graphene: a material made of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, known for high strength, light weight, and strong electrical and thermal conductivity.