UP Gets Lithium Battery Recycling Facility

Uttar Pradesh has received India’s first integrated recycling facility for lithium-ion batteries and rare earth magnets at the UPSIDC Industrial Area in Sikandrabad. Developed by Rocklink India, the plant is a major step toward strengthening domestic recovery of critical minerals and supporting India’s clean energy transition.

Integrated Recycling for Critical Materials

The facility is designed to process lithium-ion batteries, rare earth magnets and metal-bearing industrial waste. It aims to build circular supply chains for materials used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing industries.

Processing Capacity and Rare Earth Recovery

The plant has an initial lithium-ion battery recycling capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year. It also processes 60 tonnes of rare earth magnets every month. In addition, a rare-earth chloride processing unit with a capacity of 1,500 tonnes annually is planned to become operational in 2026.

Advanced Recovery and EPR Compliance

The facility is registered under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms and can handle 95 types of battery scrap, including pre-consumer and post-consumer waste. Its in-house R2 recycling process ensures recovery rates of over 98 per cent for metals such as aluminium, copper and iron, while safely managing hazardous emissions.

Important Facts for Exams

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) makes producers responsible for managing waste generated from their products.
• Rare earth magnets like NdFeB are widely used in electric vehicle motors and wind turbines.
• Black mass is the material recovered from used lithium-ion batteries containing valuable metals like lithium, cobalt and nickel.
• Critical minerals are essential for clean energy technologies and strategic manufacturing sectors.

Battery Refurbishment and Circular Economy

The facility will also support battery refurbishment by testing and reusing usable cells, extending battery life and reducing waste. Dedicated systems for recycling magnets such as NdFeB, SmCo and AlNiCo will improve material traceability. This project strengthens India’s efforts to reduce import dependence and build a sustainable critical minerals ecosystem.