India has taken a significant step toward strengthening its clean energy ecosystem and reducing dependence on imported critical minerals with financial support for an advanced lithium ion battery recycling project.
The Technology Development Board under the Department of Science and Technology has extended financial assistance to MiniMines Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd for the project titled Sustainable Recycling of the Waste Lithium ion Batteries. The initiative is aimed at commercialising an indigenous technology designed to recover critical minerals from end of life lithium ion batteries through an environmentally sustainable process.
The project focuses on developing and scaling a zero discharge recycling technology capable of extracting battery grade salts of lithium cobalt nickel and manganese from discarded batteries. The recovered materials can be reused in battery manufacturing and other industrial applications, thereby supporting India’s clean energy transition and strengthening domestic supply chains for critical minerals.
Lithium ion batteries are widely used in electric vehicles renewable energy storage systems and consumer electronics. With rapid growth in electric mobility and battery dependent technologies the management of end of life batteries and recovery of valuable materials has emerged as a major strategic and environmental priority for countries worldwide.
MiniMines Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd has developed a proprietary recycling technology known as Hybrid Hydrometallurgy. The process is designed to be compatible with multiple lithium ion battery chemistries and form factors, allowing efficient recycling across a wide range of battery types.
The technology enables black mass recovery and advanced post processing with low energy consumption minimal emissions and high separation efficiency. According to project details the process can achieve recovery rates of up to 99 percent for critical metals present in used batteries.
The recycling system developed by the company covers the entire operational chain including pre assessment collection segregation mechanical processing and advanced chemical post processing. These stages involve extraction selective separation and beneficiation of metals to produce high purity battery grade compounds suitable for reuse.
A key feature of the initiative is that the technology and processing methods have been indigenously developed and patented in India. The approach significantly reduces dependence on imported recycling technologies equipment and raw materials while promoting the concept of urban mining where valuable resources are recovered from waste materials.
Under the project MiniMines Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd plans to scale its current operations into a fully integrated commercial facility capable of processing multiple battery chemistries at industrial scale. The proposed facility will produce high purity materials including lithium carbonate and cobalt sulphate that meet industry standards for reuse in battery manufacturing.
The recovered compounds will cater to both domestic manufacturers and export markets, strengthening India’s presence in the global supply chain for battery materials.
Rajesh Kumar Pathak said the development of indigenous technologies for recovering critical minerals from end of life batteries is essential for strengthening India’s energy security and clean technology ecosystem. He noted that the project represents an important step toward building a circular economy framework for battery materials.
He said the initiative will help reduce India’s dependence on imported minerals while supporting the objectives of the National Critical Minerals Mission and accelerating the adoption of sustainable technologies.
A representative of MiniMines Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd welcomed the support from the Technology Development Board and said the assistance would enable the company to expand its innovative recycling technology and accelerate the recovery of valuable battery materials using environmentally sustainable methods.
The initiative is expected to contribute significantly to India’s broader goals of building a self reliant technology ecosystem while advancing sustainable industrial practices. Efficient recycling of lithium ion batteries will also help reduce environmental risks associated with battery disposal and ensure responsible management of hazardous waste.
By promoting indigenous technological innovation in battery recycling and critical mineral recovery the project aligns with national priorities including Aatmanirbhar Bharat clean energy development and circular economy adoption. The initiative also strengthens India’s preparedness to support the rapidly expanding electric mobility and renewable energy sectors which depend heavily on reliable battery supply chains.
