The proposed project is expected to help Gujarat secure the raw material supply for domestic manufacturing of Lithium batteries as it looks to promote electric vehicles.
India’s first Lithium refinery which will process Lithium ore to produce battery-grade material will be set up in Gujarat, state government officials said.
Manikaran Power Limited, one of the country’s largest power trading and renewable energy company will be investing over Rs 1,000 crore to set up this refinery, MK Das, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani told The Indian Express on Thursday.
“They are coming to Gujarat for sure. They are currently exploring a couple of places in Sanand and Dholera to set up this refinery. Lithium is a rare element not usually found in India. The company will be importing Lithium ore from Australia and will be processing it here,” Das added.
Last year, Manikaran Power had collaborated with Australian firm Neometals to tap the Mount Marion Lithium mine in Western Australia.
The proposed project is expected to help Gujarat secure the raw material supply for domestic manufacturing of Lithium batteries as it looks to promote electric vehicles.
“There are already a few Lithium ion battery manufacturing plants which are being set up in Gujarat. So we felt a Lithium refinery will help make the state a hub for Lithium ion batteries,” the state government official added.
TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Gujarat Private Ltd is India’s first Lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in Gujarat which is being set up jointly between Toshiba Corporation, DENSO Corporation and Suzuki Motor Corporation to manufacture and supply batteries to Suzuki Motor Gujarat plant in Hansalpur. The foundation stone for the Rs 1135 crore plant was laid in September 2017 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe visited Gujarat. “This Lithium ion battery manufacturing plant is expected to become operational by January or February 2021,” said Das.
Tata Group has also acquired land in Dholera Special Investment Region (Dholera SIR) near Ahmedabad to set up a Rs 4000 crore Lithium-ion battery plant. Apart from this, the Adani Group is also planning to set up a Lithium battery manufacturing complex in the state.
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Source: indianexpress.com
