The Critical Mineral Mission and Battery Recycling in India

Modern technologies have deemed some minerals such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, silicon, among a few others, as critical, especially as the world moves towards clean energy.

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Over the coming decades, several countries have set their sights on net zero emissions, as has India (by 2070). Therefore, the demand for these critical minerals essential for clean energy is going to rise exponentially. The Ministry of Mines, in 2023 released a report identifying 30 critical minerals. In recognition of this report. The Indian Government, in 2024 announced the critical mineral mission, an extensive strategy to consolidate India's requirements for these minerals and ensure the country's self-reliance in this domain. The mission directly intersects with the need for battery recycling infrastructure in India. Solar PVs, wind turbines and energy storage systems are the clean energy technologies most important for India's net zero transition.

Copper, being a good conductor of electricity, is used extensively in clean energy equipment, like solar, wind, batteries and EVs. Similarly, neodymium, a rare earth metal used to manufacture permanent magnets (used in wind turbines) is set to increase tenfold. Lithium demand, used in batteries is rising as well. India is fully import-dependent on lithium and neodymium and is a net copper importer. Hence, the Critical Mineral Mission is addressing the need of the hour.