LICO Materials has inaugurated a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Bengaluru, marking a major step forward in India’s EV ecosystem. The plant has an annual in-feed capacity of 4 GWh, with plans to scale up to 10 GWh within the next three to four years. This expansion aligns with India’s target of achieving 30% EV adoption by 2030.

The company is set to invest ₹250 crore in a hydrometallurgy plant within the next two to three years. This downstream facility will focus on recovering high-purity metal salts from the black mass produced during recycling. These recovered materials will be supplied to gigafactories and energy storage systems, closing the loop in the battery supply chain.

LICO aims to recycle and repurpose up to 2,00,000 metric tonnes of electric vehicle batteries annually by 2027, addressing critical supply chain gaps for essential battery materials. The company’s zero-liquid-discharge recycling process also ensures an environmentally sustainable solution for battery waste management.

According to CEO Gaurav Dolwani, the new facility is a step toward reducing dependence on imports for critical battery components and supporting India’s transition to clean energy. He added that the initiative is aligned with the growing demand for sustainable energy storage solutions, as the energy storage sector is projected to reach 42 GW by 2032.

The new Bengaluru plant will not only support India’s EV revolution but also play a pivotal role in creating a circular economy for batteries, a critical need as the EV industry grows by an estimated 250% in the coming years.