Lohum Pioneers India's First Battery-Grade Lithium Refinery

Lohum Corporation has announced the establishment of India's first battery-grade lithium refinery with an annual production capacity of 1,000 metric tonnes.

The expansion comes at a crucial time when global lithium supply chains face increasing pressure from China's market dominance. In January 2025, China imposed restrictions on exporting lithium refining technology and equipment for the latest generation of LFP battery technology—a sector where China currently controls over 95% of global capacity.

Lohum claims to refine more than 90% of all lithium in India. The company also claimed to have achieved cost competitiveness with Chinese refiners while maintaining significantly lower capital and operational expenses compared to US or EU-based facilities—reportedly one-third to one-fifth of their costs.

Lohum is also establishing production capabilities for Cathode Active Materials (CAM) that are essential components for lithium-ion battery gigafactories. This vertical integration positions Lohum to become India's largest direct consumer of lithium by 2030.

"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," said Rajat Verma, Founder & CEO of Lohum Corporation. "We are sustainably producing globally competitive critical mineral products at low CapEx and OpEx, thereby reducing India's reliance on Chinese lithium imports."

The company claims recovery rates exceeding 90%—significantly higher than the industry average of 60-70%—and produces lithium with a purity of 99.8%, with plans to reach 99.99% purity soon thanks to recent R&D breakthroughs.

Lohum's refining operations can process a diverse range of input materials, including batteries of all chemistries, industrial waste from multiple process industries and mined concentrates and intermediates tailings.

The new facility aligns with India's National Critical Minerals Mission—a ₹34,000 crore initiative announced in the 2025 budget to support exploration, processing, and R&D in critical minerals. By establishing a robust domestic supply chain for lithium, Lohum is contributing to India's mineral security goals and reducing the country's vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions.

India is projected to need approximately 300,000 tons of lithium carbonate cumulatively in the coming years. To meet this demand, Lohum has established a global supply chain for spent lithium-ion battery sourcing and secured memorandums of understanding with mining sources.

Lohum currently operates eight facilities—seven in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh (including India's largest lithium and cobalt refineries), and one in Gujarat. Two additional facilities are under development in South India. The company is also expanding globally through joint ventures in the United States and Sharjah (partnering with the UAE government), with further expansion planned in the European Union.