India-based sustainable recycling company BatX Energies has inaugurated its lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery recycling facility, HUB-1, in Sikandrabad, Uttar Pradesh. The facility focuses on extracting high-purity critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese from used batteries to meet the demands of India's expanding electric vehicle (EV) market. The project builds on BatX's black mass production unit established in 2022 and follows a successful 21-month industrial pilot completed in 2023. The company has developed an advanced in-house hydrometallurgical process capable of recycling all types of Li-ion battery waste, including rejects from gigafactories. This process complies with the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), ensuring zero emissions and zero waste. By converting black mass into critical metals locally, BatX aims to reduce energy consumption, lower costs, and promote sustainability throughout the battery recycling supply chain. Utkarsh Singh, CEO and Co-Founder of BatX Energies, highlighted the company's commitment to reducing dependency on imports and fostering a circular economy for critical materials. The facility also addresses the challenge of sourcing essential battery components from outside China. In December 2023, BatX secured $5 million in pre-series A funding led by Zephyr Peacock, alongside Lets Venture and existing investors such as JITO Angel Network and family offices of Mankind Pharma, Excel Industries, and BluSmart. Earlier, in June 2022, the company raised $1.6 million in seed funding from investors, including Sarcha Advisors, BluSmart Electric, Mankind Pharma, and Haldiram’s Family Offices. This facility positions BatX Energies as a key player in India's efforts to create a sustainable and self-reliant ecosystem for critical battery materials. (Mercom)