UAE’s first EV battery recycling plant to be developed

BEEAH Recycling, the waste processing and material recovery business arm of BEEAH Group, has announced an agreement with the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI), and the American University of Sharjah, to explore a collaboration to establish the country’s first recycling plant for end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles.

In a statement, BEEAH Recycling said that the move is part of a future-ready strategy for the sustainable growth of the electric vehicles market in the UAE. The move will also support landfill waste diversion, it added.

The agreement was signed during the 2023 World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure stand. Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group, was joined by Daker El-Rabaya, CEO of BEEAH Recycling, to sign the agreement with His Excellency Sharif Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of Energy and Petroleum Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and Prof. Juan Sanchez, Provost of American University of Sharjah. 

The statement explained that the EV battery recycling facility will be added to BEEAH Recycling’s integrated waste management complex, which currently has ten specialised waste processing and material recovery facilities that have contributed to a 76% waste diversion rate in the emirate of Sharjah, the highest in the Middle East. The addition of an EV battery recycling facility will help further increase landfill waste diversion in the future, as more batteries from EVs approach end-of-life. 

BEEAH Recycling, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and American University of Sharjah have agreed to collaborate and identify world-class technologies for the EV battery recycling facility. 

Commenting on the agreement, Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group, said: “Through BEEAH Recycling, we are proud to collaborate with the Ministry of Energy of Infrastructure and American University of Sharjah to explore a new EV Battery Recycling facility. Combining the material recovery expertise from BEEAH Recycling, the national vision and foresight of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and cutting-edge research from American University of Sharjah, we will be able to formulate the ideal, future-ready strategy. Ultimately, our efforts will realise the sustainable, zero-waste and net-zero growth of the EV market, which aligns with the national, regional, and global sustainability agenda.”

EV Market Growth Projected

The UAE has witnessed a rising number of people switching from traditional vehicles to electric vehicles. In a 2022 study, over 30% of people in the UAE were considering the switch to electric vehicles. Projections show the EV market will grow at a CAGR of 30% between 2022 and 2028.

Sharif Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of Energy and Petroleum Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, added: “Ensuring future readiness and preparedness for the electric vehicle market ties closely with the ministry’s objective on enhancing energy and infrastructure for the UAE. Leveraging the intelligence from BEEAH Recycling and the latest research from AUS, we look forward to identifying the right solution to support green mobility in our sustainable cities and communities. Our exploration will also be aligned with the national and global sustainability agenda, which prioritises achieving net-zero emissions, diverting waste from landfill, and creating a circular economy.”

Prof Juan Sanchez, Provost of American University of Sharjah (AUS), highlighted the role AUS would play on the project, pointing out that the university has pioneered the focus of its academics and operations on sustainability. 

“We recognise the importance of this monumental project, which will help make EVs more affordable and sustainable in the long run, protect the environment from toxicities and supply raw materials for battery manufacturing. We are happy to offer our cutting-edge research and expertise to this noble endeavour,” he concluded.