India's First Battery-Grade Lithium Refinery Announced By Lohum

India’s demand for lithium is projected to increase as the country scales up its electric vehicle and energy storage sectors. By 2030, global lithium carbonate consumption is estimated to reach 1.5 million metric tonnes for battery production, with significant demand outside China. India’s cumulative lithium carbonate requirement is expected to be around 300,000 metric tonnes.

China has a dominant role in the lithium refining industry, controlling a major share of global production capacity. In January 2025, China imposed restrictions on the export of lithium refining technology and advanced battery technology. The restrictions have impacted global supply chains, creating opportunities for other countries, including India, to develop domestic refining capabilities.

Lohum has established agreements for lithium-ion battery recycling and sourcing from international suppliers. The company has also signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with mining sources to ensure consistent lithium supply. The lithium refining operations in India are reported to have capital and operational costs comparable to leading Chinese refiners, with significantly lower costs than refiners in the United States and the European Union.

Rajat Verma, Founder & CEO of Lohum Corporation, said, "Lohum's lithium refining leadership, coupled with our growing capabilities in value-added products like Cathode Active Materials, positions us as a key partner in building a Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat. We are sustainably producing globally competitive critical mineral products at low CapEx and OpEx, thereby reducing India's reliance on Chinese lithium imports."

The Government of India has introduced the National Critical Minerals Mission with an allocation of Rs 34,000 crore to support mineral exploration, processing and research with the aim to make India’s position strong in the global critical minerals supply chain.

Lohum's lithium refining capabilities, currently has a recovery rates of 90%+ (the industry average is 60-70%) and purity of 99.8%+, slated to reach 99.99% shortly. Lohum has filed over 50 patent claims around lithium and 100+ patent claims across different critical minerals reuse, recycling and refining technologies.