UAE To Launch First EV Battery Recycling Facility Via MoEI BEEAH LOHUM Joint Venture

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is partnering with BEEAH and LOHUM to launch the UAE’s first large-scale EV battery recycling and second-life facility, aiming to support the national circular economy strategy and future electric mobility growth while building local capacity for critical battery materials and reducing dependence on external supply chains.

Announced during the World Future Energy Summit, held alongside Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the joint venture extends a previous collaboration between BEEAH and LOHUM. The new agreement adds the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure as a partner and turns earlier technical cooperation on lithium-ion recycling into a full industrial project for the UAE market.

Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said, "This partnership is aligned with the national agenda to manage electric vehicle batteries through localised innovations. This will be achieved through the establishment of a specialised facility that operates at the highest technical and environmental standards, strengthening circularity and the UAE’s readiness to keep pace with the rapid growth of electric mobility." He added that the project represents a key pillar in the national roadmap, which positions the UAE as a global hub for electric vehicles and targets 50 percent of vehicles to be electric by 2050.

Sharif Al Olama noted that this initiative supports lower emissions from transport and backs the development of domestic industrial skills. The project is expected to create longer-term economic opportunities linked to EV battery recycling, while giving the UAE a structured response to handling end-of-life batteries in line with national environmental and energy policies.

The facility will be built inside BEEAH’s integrated Waste Management Complex in Al Saja’a, Sharjah. It will handle electric vehicle batteries and other lithium-ion formats. The plant will recycle materials and prepare suitable batteries for second-life applications, linking operational processes with the UAE’s broader aim to extend product life and reduce waste disposal.

The joint venture plans to process 1,500 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries in 2026. By the third year of operations, the partners expect to double this throughput. This planned scale is designed to match rising EV adoption in the UAE and the wider region, while building a stable domestic source of recovered critical minerals.

EV battery recycling circularity model and traceability

The plant will use a staged "reuse first, recycle later" approach. Used EV batteries that remain suitable will be repurposed for second-life use, including energy storage systems. After reuse, safe dismantling and material extraction will follow, lowering the environmental impact linked to producing and disposing of new batteries.

Using LOHUM’s patented NEETM technology, the facility will recover lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite from processed batteries. These materials will be returned to manufacturing supply chains rather than sent to landfills or sourced from international mines, supporting security of supply for energy storage and EV producers operating in or serving the UAE market.

EV battery recycling software, compliance and producer benefits

Through integration with a dedicated software platform, the joint venture will provide full traceability for producers. Tracking will start from the collection and tagging of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, continue through sorting and processing, and end with recycling or repurposing outcomes, supporting better reporting and risk management.

This digital oversight will help producers comply with regulatory requirements and participate in structured buyback schemes. It also enables companies to engage in the circular economy around EV battery recycling by documenting recovered volumes, recovered materials and environmental benefits, which can support corporate sustainability disclosures.

EV battery recycling corporate perspectives and strategic aims

Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO and Vice Chairman, BEEAH, said, "For BEEAH, this project is a natural extension of our broader circularity strategy, demonstrating how sustainability unlocks value across future-critical industries. By joining forces with MoEI and LOHUM, we are proactively addressing end-of-life EV battery lifecycle management and reducing reliance on landfills, as demand for electric mobility surges. The facility’s strategic location within our flagship waste management complex further reinforces BEEAH’s commitment to managing emerging waste streams and achieving Sharjah’s zero-waste target."

Sachin Maheshwari, Chief Corporate Development Officer, said, "We look forward to expanding our collaboration with BEEAH and welcome MoEI as a partner in this national initiative. As a leading global producer of sustainable critical minerals and advanced materials, LOHUM’s integrated battery recycling and repurposing solutions are designed to maximise the remaining useful life of lithium-ion batteries before extracting critical materials with zero-waste efficiency. This approach not only cuts carbon footprint but also ensures that raw materials are reintroduced into the supply chain. Together, we aim to build a world-class facility that supports the UAE’s sustainability vision and accelerates the global shift toward clean energy."

Research referenced by the partners indicates that prioritising reuse before recycling reduces both carbon emissions and resource use compared with direct disposal or immediate material recovery. By placing EV battery recycling within a structured national framework, the project also strengthens supply chain resilience for critical inputs and supports the UAE’s ambition to become a regional centre for clean transport and energy technologies.

With inputs from WAM