India’s Strategic Push For Self-Reliance In Critical Minerals: How Battery Recycling Is The Right Fit

OPINION: If India’s EV transition is to succeed, we need a nationwide recycling ecosystem.

By Manikumar Uppala

Modern technologies have deemed some minerals such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, and silicon, among a few others, as critical, especially as the world moves towards clean energy. Over the coming decades, several countries have set their sights on net zero emissions, as has India (by 2070). Therefore, the demand for these critical minerals essential for clean energy is going to rise exponentially. The Ministry of Mines, in 2023  released a report identifying 30 critical minerals in recognition of this report.

The Narendra Modi Government in 2024 announced the critical mineral mission, an extensive strategy to consolidate India’s requirements for these minerals and ensure the country’s self-reliance in this domain. The mission directly intersects with the need for battery recycling infrastructure in India.

Critical Mineral Mission Is Need Of The Hour

Solar PVs, wind turbines and energy storage systems are the clean energy technologies most important for India’s net zero transition. Copper, being a good conductor of electricity, is used extensively in clean energy equipment, like solar, wind, batteries and EVs. Similarly, neodymium, a rare earth metal used to manufacture permanent magnets (used in wind turbines) is set to increase tenfold.

Lithium demand, used in batteries is rising as well. India is fully import-dependent on lithium and neodymium and is a net copper importer. Hence, the Critical Mineral Mission is addressing the need of the hour. 

What Are The Main Objectives?

The Mission’s primary objectives are: first, securing a reliable supply of minerals by diversifying sources and promoting domestic exploration; second, India plans to develop the country’s domestic capabilities for processing and refining and promoting R&D in mineral extraction and processing technologies. Additionally, India is planning strategic partnerships with other countries to secure access to critical mineral resources.

Various initiatives such as geo-mapping, exploration, and incentives for private sector participation, among others have been planned to achieve the objectives of the mission.

Battery recycling is a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to ensuring a sustainable supply of critical minerals. Batteries contain lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper and when batteries reach the end of their lifecycle, these minerals can be recovered through various battery recycling technologies.

Recycling batteries not only reduces the need for primary mining but also reduces the environmental impact associated with mining and supply chain disruption by geopolitical uncertainties. By recovering critical minerals from discarded batteries, battery recycling can reduce India's import dependence, create a closed-loop supply chain of minerals and help meet the objectives of the Critical Minerals Mission.

As the battery recycling industry is still in its early stages, it faces several challenges such as overlap with the informal waste collection sector, lack of strong implementation of policy framework, and lack of standardisation in feedstock.

However, the potential to contribute to Critical Minerals Mission is immense. Existing technologies for battery recycling such as hydrometallurgy, direct recycling and newer physical methods of battery recycling such as integrated carbothermal reduction can extract over 90 per cent (in some cases, above 95 per cent) of battery materials from an end-of-life battery. 

How Critical Mineral Mission Is Complementary To Battery Recycling

The Critical Mineral Mission and battery recycling can be seen as being inherently complementary to each other. By promoting advancements in battery recycling technologies, the objectives of the Critical Minerals Mission can be addressed to a considerable extent. To maximise the synergy between the Mission and recycling, the government could also provide financial incentives, along with investing in research for setting up recycling facilities.

The best example of success stories in battery recycling is that of China. China, through strong policy push and technological advancement, has set up a cohesive recycling ecosystem. Studies predict that 55 per cent of China’s lithium needs will be met via recycling by 2050. Adapting a similar attitude in India about the importance of recycling, and adopting best practices, India can accelerate its progress towards a self-reliant critical minerals supply chain.

Battery recycling is a symbiotic industry for aluminium, copper, lithium, cobalt, and nickel supply chains and is the other side of the same coin that is Critical Mineral Mission. Recognising it as such can enhance India's position in the global clean energy landscape, and accelerate the journey towards net zero emissions. A coordinated approach that prioritises innovation, collaboration, and effective policy implementation can unlock the full potential of this synergistic relationship.

(The author is the Co-Founder and Chief of Industrial Engineering, Metastable Materials)

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