Gulf Cryo, a leading provider of end-to-end industrial, medical, and specialty gas solutions in the MEA, and HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. (CSE: HG) (OTCQB: HGCPF), a commercial manufacturer of pristine graphene, announce today that they have entered into a memo of understanding (MOU) to collaborate in the production, distribution and selling of HydroGraph’s pristine graphene in the Middle East region.
Under the terms of the MOU, HydroGraph and Gulf Cryo will work together to assess the local market, as well as to identify placement and operation of a commercial-scale graphene production unit (Hyperion System™). HydroGraph will contribute with technical, operational and application expertise while Gulf Cryo will bring the essential business development and operating resources.
Graphene, hailed as a wonder material of the 21st century, continues to revolutionize industries with its remarkable properties. Characterized by its robustness, flexibility, lightweight nature, and impressive durability, graphene stands as a game-changer in various sectors. Its strength surpasses that of steel by approximately 200 times, while being remarkably lighter than aluminum. These characteristics aid in enhancing durability and sustainability in industries like construction, transport, electronics and others.
The partnership will cover key markets in the region among them the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt, and it will focus on the areas of lubricants, resins, bottling and concrete, with the planning and market assessment phases expected to last three to five months.
“We made an initial investment in HydroGraph in November 2023 and now are looking forward to extending the relationship to leverage the enormous investment focus in the region on innovative and sustainable technologies such as graphene,” said Amer Huneidi, executive chairman and CEO of Gulf Cryo. “Given that HydroGraph’s graphene uses oxygen and acetylene as raw materials, and there is a broad range of potential graphene applications in this region, this is a unique opportunity to extend our product line into new areas, creating value for our customers and shareholders, while we play our role in supporting the sustainability goals.”
“We are excited by this partnership with Gulf Cryo as we see several mutually beneficial opportunities,” said HydroGraph President and Interim CEO Kjirstin Bruere . “In addition to being a leading provider of acetylene to the Middle East and offering the required feedstock to HydroGraph’s high-purity graphene production process, Gulf Cryo has strong operational capabilities and shares many of the same target customers as us. Importantly, they have an established operating footprint within the region with steadfast relationships.”
The initial planning and market assessment phases will focus on:
- Composites, plastics and resins (including bottling): HydroGraph’s graphene has been shown to increase the yield strength by over 18% and increase breakage strength by over 100%. This will result in bottles using 20% less plastic, consuming 20% less energy to produce and substantially reduce distribution costs. These are all valuable features for the region's robust petrochemical industry and growing use of composites, plastics and resins.
- Lubricants: HydroGraph’s engineered graphene mixed in with lubricants, both grease and oils, has shown to decrease the coefficient of friction by 70% (lowers resistance between moving parts), reduce wear by 80% and extend the life of the lubricant by over 24 times. The region's lubricant market will benefit from longer product life (less oil changes, less machinery downtime) with less wearing of mechanical components.
- Cement and concrete: Third-party tests confirm that HydroGraph’s graphene improves compressive strength by over 24%. This is a major benefit for the region, which is experiencing significant infrastructure growth. HydroGraph’s graphene also will reduce the amount of aggregate material and water required in concrete and shorten the curing period for both cement and concrete.