NavPrakriti, a lithium-ion battery recycling and refurbishment company in Eastern India, has announced plans to invest over INR 100 crore to set up a greenfield critical mineral refining facility in Odisha. The plant is expected to become operational by FY 2028–29.

The project is part of government and has been approved under the National Critical Mineral Mission for extraction of cobalt, nickel, and lithium. These metals are needed to make new batteries and this aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains and recycling capacity. It will process about 5,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) and extract useful materials instead of throwing them away. This helps circular economy objectives and reducing import dependence.

The company is also developing an R&D ecosystem in collaboration with national and international institutions to improve technology from batteries and find better ways to repair and reuse batteries so that it can last longer.

Founded in 2024 by Akhilesh and Avnish Bagaria, NavPrakriti operates an existing lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Serampore, West Bengal, with an annual capacity of 12,000 tonnes, scalable to 24,000 tonnes. The Odisha facility will be its second unit focused on critical mineral extraction.

Akhilesh Bagaria, Co-founder of NavPrakriti, said, “Our planned INR 100 crore investment in this state-of-the-art facility goes beyond scale; it sets a new benchmark for responsible battery recycling and advanced mineral recovery in India. This project aims to create over 500 direct and indirect employment, delivering significant socio-economic impact.”

The Odisha plant is designed for recovery of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other minerals from used batteries and aligns with the National Critical Mineral Mission.

Avnish Bagaria, Co-founder, said, “We are accelerating our goal of partnerships with over 150 battery OEMs and leading battery manufacturers in the next three years. We have recently partnered with NASH Energy to ensure responsible end-of-life management and closed-loop recycling for all batteries produced by NASH, including production scrap. By maximising material recovery and reducing India’s import dependence, we are ensuring responsible end-of-life management and closed-loop recycling for all batteries processed, in compliance with the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.”

The company is also exploring battery refurbishment to extend product life cycles and reduce raw material demand.