UAE and Jereh Group partner to develop integrated clean energy and industrial platform with focus on SMRs and battery materials

The UAE’s Ministry of Investment has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Jereh Group, aiming to develop an integrated clean energy and industrial platform within the country. This move highlights Abu Dhabi’s efforts to blend advanced manufacturing capabilities with low-carbon energy solutions.

The announcement, made on April 18, saw the signing of the agreement by Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, the ministry’s undersecretary, and Li Weibin, who is the executive president of Jereh Group. According to both parties, the plan is designed not only to deepen economic ties between the UAE and China but also to boost the country’s position as a regional hub for next-generation energy tech and industrial manufacturing.

This proposed platform combines three key elements that are becoming increasingly vital to the UAE’s industrial agenda: small modular reactors (SMRs), the production of battery materials, and recycling of batteries. Jereh Group said it plans to use SMR technology to provide a steady, zero-carbon power source for baseload electricity. Additionally, they aim to build an anode material plant with an anticipated capacity of 100,000 tonnes annually, as well as develop lithium battery recycling facilities.

Both the ministry and Jereh see this as a complementary setup, power from the SMRs will support the anode material plant, creating a kind of tightly integrated model where energy supply directly fuels industrial output. The project is expected to span several phases over the next three to five years, according to the announcement.

For the UAE, this initiative fits well within its ambitious Energy Strategy 2050, which advocates for a diversified mix of low-carbon energy sources that also emphasizes energy security. It’s part of a broader push to expand local industry capacity and attract foreign investment into higher-value sectors. Officials involved mentioned that this project further cements the UAE’s position as an early adopter of cutting-edge energy tech and a prominent destination for large-scale industrial investments.

Particularly noteworthy is the focus on small modular reactors. Although they’re still at the early stages of widespread commercial adoption worldwide, SMRs are being promoted in several markets as a reliable, lower-emission source of electricity, useful for industry, desalination, or supporting the grid. Their small size, modular build, and the potential for phased deployment make them especially appealing. For a country like the UAE, where industrial expansion and decarbonization are running side by side, that’s a pretty strategic fit.

The emphasis on battery materials and recycling is also quite significant. The global demand for lithium-ion batteries keeps climbing, driven by electric vehicles, stationary storage options, and overall electrification trends. Producing anode materials domestically could help the UAE climb further up the clean tech value chain. Recycling batteries, meanwhile, is gaining recognition as an essential part of reducing waste, reclaiming vital minerals, and strengthening supply chains.

The announcement, however, didn’t specify the overall investment size from Jereh Group or where exactly the facilities might be located. It also left out details on regulatory approvals or funding arrangements. Still, it clearly signals an effort to build industrial ecosystems centered around clean energy assets, rather than viewing power generation just as a separate policy.

That approach aligns with the UAE’s overall economic vision. Over recent years, the country has been positioning itself as a hub for trade, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and climate tech. So, combining clean energy with battery materials production shouldn’t just be seen as an energy project, it’s also a form of industrial policy.

The ministry said it would support Jereh Group’s expansion within the UAE, in line with its goal to attract investments into-growth sectors and promote sustainable development. For Jereh, this deal marks another chapter in its international expansion. Li Weibin noted that the UAE’s reliable infrastructure, supportive rules, and access to global markets make it a pretty strategic place for the company to grow.

The broader geopolitical and commercial background also plays a role here. Alhawi mentioned that the partnership reflects the strengthening economic ties between the UAE and China. Official figures show that bilateral trade topped $100 billion in 2024, with China remaining the country’s biggest trading partner. Data as of July 2025 even indicate that about 16,500 Chinese companies hold active trade licenses in the UAE, an increase of more than 18% from the year before, spanning many sectors.

This trade relationship has grown increasingly important as the UAE aims to position itself as a bridge connecting East and West. Meanwhile, China has shown increasing interest in the Gulf’s energy transition and industrial opportunities. The new memorandum hints at both sides seeing value in combining their capital, technology, and market access, especially as global supply chains for energy equipment and battery materials are undergoing significant shifts.

Of course, the next steps involve moving from political intent to real-world action. In the coming years, much attention will focus on where these facilities might be built, how licensing and regulation for the SMRs will be handled, and whether the entire industrial platform can scale commercially. The absence of detailed specifics keeps the project in its early stages, but the overall strategic direction looks quite promising.

For the UAE, this partnership further exemplifies how climate tech is becoming woven into the broader industrial strategy. Instead of just relying on renewable power alone, the country seems increasingly committed to developing a full ecosystem that integrates power, materials, and recycling. If the project develops as planned, the Jereh partnership could serve as a prominent example of how integrated clean energy and manufacturing initiatives might look in practice.