Kezad Group and Witthal Gulf Industries have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the UAE’s first lithium battery recycling plant, a significant step towards a sustainable future.

The plant, scheduled to be fully operational by Q2 2027, will have the capacity to recycle 5,000 tons of battery waste annually, preventing approximately 20,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. It will also reduce reliance on energy-intensive mining, and generate local employment opportunities.

Aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 goals and Circular Economy Policy 2021-2031, the project reflects the nation’s commitment to green industrial development.

The facility will play a key role in the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem by supporting renewable energy storage, lowering the carbon footprint of battery production, and incorporating advanced carbon capture and material recovery technologies.

Talking about the project, Sugumaran Devaraja, Advisor at Witthal Gulf Industries said, “We have over a decade of strong understanding of the future of trade—we are already involved in the battery trade segment and the supply materials that go into battery manufacturing. We wanted to find a gap where we could play our part that matched KEZAD’s automotive hub ambition.”

Devaraja added that the recycling facility will serve as a cornerstone for Witthal’s growth while enabling the development of technologies such as carbon capture and value-added manufacturing within the Kezad ecosystem.