
India Invests ₹2,814 Crore in Domestic Lithium and Nickel Processing
What Happened?
India is investing ₹2,814 crore to establish four new lithium and nickel processing plants to reduce reliance on imports. This initiative aims to enhance domestic capacity for critical minerals essential for various industries.
Key points
- The Indian government is backing four processing plants with ₹2,814 crore over five years.
- The scheme aims to reduce India's heavy dependence on imported lithium and nickel.
- Each lithium plant will have a minimum capacity of 30,000 tonnes, while nickel plants will have 50,000 tonnes.
- The capital subsidy covers 30% of eligible investments for companies that qualify.
- Cobalt is expected to be recovered as a by-product of nickel processing.
- India's current import dependence for nickel and cobalt is 100%, according to NITI Aayog.
Key insights
- Expanding domestic processing may reduce vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions.
- The success of this initiative depends on the ability of companies to produce usable materials for Indian manufacturers.
- This move aligns with India's broader goal of achieving self-sufficiency in critical minerals.
Why it matters
This initiative could enhance India's self-reliance in critical minerals, impacting various sectors like electric mobility and electronics.
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Source
Times Now
