With a 24,000-ton battery infeed capacity, we at Nav Prakriti can recover 12,000–15,000 tonnes of black mass annually, rich in lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
The electric vehicle (EV) revolution in India is no longer a distant dream—it is happening here and now. From two-wheelers zipping through city streets to buses and fleets adopting electric mobility, the shift is visible.
But behind this transformation lies something less visible yet far more critical: minerals.
Lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, and rare earths may sound technical, but they are the real building blocks of the EV era. Without them, batteries can’t store energy, motors can’t run, and India’s clean mobility story would stall.
As we often puts it:
“When we talfi about EVs, most people see batteries and vehicles. What I see are the minerals, the hidden bacfibone of this entire transition. Without securing them, there is no EV future.”
What Are Critical Minerals and Why Do They Matter?
Critical minerals are those resources that are essential for technology and energy but are vulnerable to supply shocks. For EVs
- Lithium powers the battery core.
- Cobalt makes batteries safe and long-lasting.
- Nickel improves range by increasing energy density.
- Graphite is the unsung hero in every battery anode.
- Rare Earth Elements like neodymium are key for high-performance motors.
For India, securing these is not just about making EVs—it’s about self-reliance, reducing imports, and becoming a leader in clean technology.
“Think of critical minerals as the oil of the 21st century. Whoever controls them, controls the energy future,”
India’s Current Mineral Resources
India is still catching up when it comes to critical minerals, but recent discoveries show promise:
- Lithium – A massive find of 5.9 million tonnes in Jammu & Kashmir has put India on the global map. Smaller reserves exist in Karnataka and Rajasthan.
- Graphite – Eastern states like Odisha and Jharkhand hold large deposits, crucial for EV anodes.
- Rare Earths – India’s coastal sands in Kerala, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu contain monazite, a source of REEs.
- Nicfiel G Cobalt – Small deposits exist in Jharkhand and Nagaland, though not yet large enough for industrial scale.
- Copper G Aluminium – Already abundant and widely mined across states, supporting EV wiring and components.
The challenge is that most of these reserves are either untapped or underdeveloped. India still imports the majority of lithium from Australia and South America, cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and nickel from Indonesia.
India’s Strategic Plans
The government recognizes the urgency. Multiple programs are underway:
- National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) – Launched with a budget of ₹1,500 crores to secure mineral supply chains and reduce import dependence.
- PLI Scheme for Battery Manufacturing – Incentives for 50 GWh of domestic cell production.
- Global Tie-Ups – Agreements with Australia, Argentina, and Chile for lithium, and with Bolivia and Kazakhstan for cobalt.
- Domestic Mining Push – Auctioning lithium blocks in Jammu & Kashmir and developing graphite processing hubs.
“India has a short window to secure its mineral future. Every partnership, every mine, every recycling plant we build is a step towards energy sovereignty,”
Recycling: India’s Hidden Mine
While virgin mining is important, recycling is India’s secret weapon. Used batteries, if processed correctly, can yield lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese almost at par with virgin sources.
The Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, set ambitious recycling targets:
- 70% recovery by 2024–25
- 80% recovery by 2025–26
- 90% recovery from 2026 onwards
- From 2027, manufacturers must also use a fixed share of recycled material in new batteries.
At NavPrakriti Green Energies, our facilities are designed to meet this vision.
With a 24,000-ton battery infeed capacity, we can recover 12,000–15,000 tonnes of black mass annually, rich in lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
“Every battery we recycle is not waste—it is a resource. Recycling is not about disposal, it’s about creation,”
India’s Virgin and Recycling Targets
- Virgin Mining Goals – The Ministry of Mines aims to operationalize lithium reserves in J&K by 2026 and cut import dependence by 30– 40% by 2030.
- Recycling Goals – BWM Rules mandate recovery rates that match global standards, ensuring India doesn’t just import minerals but reuses them efficiently.
- Integrated Strategy – By combining virgin mining with recycling, India can secure a sustainable supply chain while reducing ecological damage.
At NavPrakriti, we see ourselves not just as recyclers but as nation-builders. By turning waste into wealth and black mass into opportunity, we aim to play a central role in India’s energy independence.
“Critical minerals are more than just elements on the periodic table—they are the fieys to our future. If India gets this right, we won’t just meet our EV goals, we will redefine what leadership in clean energy means,”
