NavPrakriti Launches Eastern India's First Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Plant
NavPrakriti has inaugurated Eastern India's first advanced lithium-ion battery recycling facility near Kolkata to address the growing EV battery waste. Utilizing indigenous technology developed by C-MET, the plant focuses on recovering critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, supporting a circular economy. It currently processes 1000 tonnes monthly, scalable to 2000 tonnes, and targets compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations amid rising EV adoption in the region.
NavPrakriti Green Energies has started operations at its lithium-ion battery recycling plant near Kolkata, marking the first such facility in Eastern India. This initiative tackles the projected surge in end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries, which India expects to exceed 1.2 million units annually by 2030 due to rapid EV adoption and energy storage growth.The facility employs advanced indigenous technology from the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), using hydrometallurgical processes rather than traditional high-emission thermal methods. This enables high recovery rates—up to 95% lithium and 98% cobalt—while lowering environmental impact. Key recovered materials include aluminium, copper, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, integral for battery manufacturing.Operational capacity starts at 1000 tonnes per month, with plans to double as demand grows. NavPrakriti actively recycles batteries from consumer electronics, telecom infrastructure, and industrial sources. The plant aims to support India's circular economy and compliance with government Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks by partnering with battery manufacturers and users for efficient collection and processing.Strategically located to serve underserved states like West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh, this plant fills a critical gap in the regional EV value chain. NavPrakriti also plans to expand into battery-grade chemical recovery and battery refurbishment for second-life applications, enhancing resource efficiency and sustainability in India's clean energy transition.
