New Delhi: With India’s critical mineral imports surging to USD 16 billion in 2023-24—more than double the figure from 2020-21—Lohum India is stepping up its efforts to address the demand for sustainable solutions. The company, a leader in lithium-ion battery recycling and critical material production, has announced its expansion into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, setting up a 20,000 MT Cathode Active Material (CAM) manufacturing facility.
Speaking to ET Energyworld, Arun Mittal, CEO, Lohum India, highlighted the company’s growth strategy. “We’re looking to set up 10,000 MT capacity each for Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), translating to 10 GWh of production capacity,” he said.
The expansion into Southern India, home to gigafactories by Ola, Exide, and Amara Raja Batteries, is strategic. “Being close to these battery manufacturing hubs gives us a significant edge in building relationships with key customers and advancing a circular economy,” Mittal added.
Boosting critical mineral recoveryIndia’s growing reliance on imported minerals, including USD 11 billion for copper, USD0.5 billion for nickel, and USD 0.13 billion for lithium, underscores the need for domestic alternatives. Lohum aims to reduce dependency through its recycling and low-carbon refining initiatives, recovering essential materials from end-of-life batteries and production waste.
“Our goal is to recover and recirculate materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite to lower battery costs and secure energy resources. We also aim to process platinum group metals (PGM) and rare earth elements (REE) locally to cut imports,” Mittal said.
The company’s plans include expanding REE refining capabilities, partnering with motor and turbine manufacturers, and offering made-in-India solutions to reduce dependency on Chinese products.
Scaling up globallyLohum is also looking beyond India, with plans to enter the US market by setting up a facility to cater to the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs). “The US EV market is projected to reach 1,000 GWh by 2030, and our cost-efficient structure developed in India positions us to compete effectively,” Mittal said.
In Europe, the company is exploring partnerships to align with the region’s push for a circular economy. “We’re committed to creating solutions that comply with stringent regulations and drive sustainability,” he added.Sustainability at the core
With sustainability as a core focus, Lohum integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles across operations. The company invests 10% of its revenue into research and development, supported by a 100-member R&D team, including 15 PhDs.
Lohum’s upcoming Giga plant in India, set to operationalize by 2025, is expected to further strengthen its capabilities in recycling and CAM production, solidifying its position as a leader in the critical minerals sector.
“Our vision is to accelerate the energy transition while fostering a zero-waste supply chain,” Mittal said, emphasizing the company’s role in driving India’s sustainability and energy independence.
