CSIR-NML Jamshedpur Partners with R2E Greentech to Recycle Lithium-Ion Batteries

Jamshedpur: The CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML), Jamshedpur, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with New Delhi-based M/s R2E Greentech Private Limited. This agreement transfers and commercializes indigenous technology developed to recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, marking a significant step toward scientific battery waste management and India’s circular economy.

The newly developed technology extracts critical materials from spent batteries, including lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, copper, aluminium, and graphite. Since India currently relies heavily on imports for strategic metals like lithium and cobalt, this recycling innovation provides a crucial alternative secondary resource, strengthening national resource security.

Dr. Sandip Ghosh Chowdhury, Director of CSIR-NML, formalized the MoU alongside Chief Scientist Dr. Manis Kumar Jha and Metal Extraction Head Dr. Sanjay Kumar. R2E Greentech Directors Akhilesh Nandkishore Dubey and Harish Kumar Pandey represented the firm, expressing confidence that the partnership will scale a responsible, safe, and commercial battery recycling system.

The initiative directly addresses India’s burgeoning battery waste crisis, driven by the rapid growth of electric vehicles and portable electronics. Experts estimate that global battery waste will reach 11 million metric tonnes annually by 2031, while India alone faces nearly 2 million tonnes by 2035.

Improper disposal of these units causes severe soil and water contamination, alongside fire hazards. By transitioning this technology from the lab to industrial application, the collaboration bridges the gap between scientific research and India’s largely informal recycling sector. The project aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 17, promoting responsible production and public-private partnerships while turning hazardous electronic waste into highly valuable economic assets.