LICO Materials has inaugurated India’s largest battery recycling facility in Bengaluru designed to process 17,500 metric tonnes of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries annually. With an initial infeed capacity of 4GWh per year and plans to scale to 10GWh this state-of-the-art facility marks a significant milestone in addressing the challenges of critical material supply.
The facility employs a zero-liquid-discharge process. By recycling and repurposing batteries, the facility aims to recover essential materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, reducing reliance on imports and contributing to the clean energy transition. Gaurav Dolwani, CEO, LICO Materials, emphasised the significance of the facility in bridging supply chain gaps for critical battery materials and its alignment with India’s energy goals.
By 2027, LICO plans to scale its operations to recycle batteries equivalent to 200,000 metric tonnes annually, translating to substantial environmental benefits. These include conserving 100 million litres of water and reducing CO2 emissions equivalent to the absorption capacity of 37 million trees.
This facility will focus on processing black mass—an intermediate product of battery recycling—into battery-grade metal salts. These purified materials will be supplied to gigafactories and energy storage systems, creating a closed-loop battery supply chain and further enhancing India’s self-reliance in critical raw materials.
As the EV industry in India is poised to grow by 250% and energy storage capacity is expected to reach 42GW by 2032, efficient recycling systems are vital to securing a stable supply of critical minerals. LICO’s facility leverages advanced processes to extract valuable materials, contributing to a sustainable battery circular economy.
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