The Technology Development Board under the Department of Science and Technology has extended financial support to MiniMines Cleantech Solutions Pvt. Ltd. for a project on sustainable recycling of waste lithium-ion batteries, an official statement said on Friday, 6 March.
The project is aimed at commercialising an indigenous, zero-discharge battery recycling and critical mineral refining process for extracting battery-grade salts of lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.
According to the statement, the initiative is expected to strengthen India’s capability in recovering critical minerals through advanced recycling technologies, reduce dependence on imports, and support the country’s clean energy transition.
MiniMines Cleantech Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is the first R4 category recycler providing end-to-end solutions for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) services.
According to the Science and Technology ministry, the company has developed a proprietary process known as Hybrid Hydrometallurgy™️, which is designed to be agnostic to various lithium-ion battery chemistries and form factors.
The company’s black mass recovery and post-processing technology ensures low energy consumption, minimal emissions, and high separation efficiency, enabling recovery rates of up to 99 percent.
The ministry said the complete process, from pre-assessment, collection and segregation to mechanical processing and advanced post-processing stages such as extraction, selective separation and beneficiation, has been indigenously developed and patented.
Under the project, the company plans to scale up its existing operations into a fully integrated commercial facility capable of processing multiple battery chemistries and producing high-purity critical materials for reuse.
The recovered compounds, including lithium carbonate and cobalt sulphate, are expected to meet industry specifications and cater to both domestic and export markets, according to the ministry.
Technology Development Board Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak said development of indigenous technologies for recovery and refining of critical minerals from end-of-life batteries is important for strengthening India’s energy security and clean technology ecosystem.
He said through this project, TDB is supporting the commercialization of a sustainable recycling solution that can reduce import dependence, promote circular economy practices, and contribute to the objectives of the National Critical Minerals Mission.
According to the ministry, the project represents a significant step towards building a self-reliant and technology-driven ecosystem for critical mineral recovery and clean energy materials in India.
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