Grant from ACT, UNIDO, and Oil India will fund a 3,000 TPA facility, boosting India’s critical minerals circular economy.
MiniMines Cleantech Solutions, a pioneering force in South India’s battery recycling landscape, has received a significant financial boost to scale its operations and bolster India’s self-reliance in critical minerals. The company announced today that it has secured a combined grant of INR 4.3 crore from a consortium of leading organizations: ACT for Environment (a climate action fund), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and Oil India Limited.
This crucial funding will enable MiniMines to transition from its demonstration facility to a full-scale, continuous Hybrid-Hydrometallurgy™ process unit. This industrial-level plant will be capable of processing 3,000 tons per annum (TPA) of battery material, marking a major leap forward for the company and the country’s circular economy efforts.
The grants will be allocated towards process engineering, plant commissioning, and the commercial validation of the high-purity, recycled materials. By establishing this large-scale facility, MiniMines aims to significantly shorten lead times for raw material recovery, enabling a more robust and localized supply chain for battery manufacturers. The company’s innovative technology also promises a substantial reduction in lifecycle emissions compared to traditional primary mining methods.
Anupam Kumar, Co-founder and CEO of MiniMines, emphasized the strategic importance of the grants. “This support empowers us to demonstrate that recycled materials can be produced reliably, at scale, and with the high purity required for the battery manufacturing supply chain,” he stated. “This milestone positions MiniMines at the forefront of India’s efforts to secure critical minerals and directly advances the objectives of the National Critical Minerals Mission.”
The technology, a patented Hybrid-Hydrometallurgy™ process, has been validated by UNIDO under their FLCTD program. It focuses on producing industrial-grade materials while using a fraction of the carbon footprint of conventional extraction methods. This approach not only turns end-of-life lithium-ion batteries into valuable feedstock but also reduces India’s reliance on imported raw materials.
Alankrita Khera, Director at ACT, highlighted the alignment of MiniMines’ work with their mission. “MiniMines’ work in the Li-ion battery recycling and critical minerals space fits our mandate perfectly,” she said. “Our support is intended to help build an environmentally sound future for Bharat where rare resources are sourced locally and responsibly by turning waste into value.”
MiniMines’ work is poised to create a more circular and resilient critical-minerals supply chain, recovering essential elements such as Nickel for green hydrogen, copper for electronics, and pre-CAM for lithium-ion cell manufacturing. This initiative represents a significant step towards a sustainable and self-reliant future for India’s clean energy and technology sectors.