Lohum, a leading critical mineral refining and processing company, has announced plans to invest Rs 500 million to establish India’s first rare earth refining hub. The project marks a key milestone in strengthening the nation’s critical minerals supply chain and advancing the government’s Critical Minerals Mission.

The upcoming facility will refine rare earth elements essential for electric mobility, advanced batteries, and green technologies—key materials used in EV motors, wind turbines, and high-performance electronics. By localising refining capabilities, Lohum aims to reduce India’s import dependence and promote self-reliance in strategic mineral processing.

Currently, Lohum recovers seven key metals—lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, aluminium, platinum group metals, and graphite—from end-of-life batteries and industrial waste, with an annual recycling capacity of 20,000 tonnes. The company plans to expand this capacity four to five times by 2029 to meet rising demand from the EV and battery sectors.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and IIT Bombay, Lohum is also setting up two Centres of Excellence (CoEs) focused on sustainable materials recovery and circular technologies. These centres will advance research in battery recycling and next-generation refining methods, positioning India as a global leader in sustainable mineral processing and green technology innovation.