NML Jamshedpur transfers battery recycling technology to Bengaluru firm

CSIR-NML-CircuOre partnership to recover valuable metals from waste batteries

 Jamshedpur, June 17: In a significant step towards strengthening battery recycling and critical material recovery in India, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur, has signed a technology transfer agreement with Bengaluru-based M/S CircuOre Private Limited for the scientific recycling of waste lithium-ion batteries.

The agreement will enable the company to use CSIR-NML’s indigenous technology to recover valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, copper, aluminium and graphite from used and discarded lithium-ion batteries. The initiative is expected to support India’s circular economy goals, reduce dependence on imported raw materials and promote sustainable industrial growth.

Speaking on the occasion, Srikumar Vachaspathi, Director of M/S CircuOre Private Limited, said battery recycling has become increasingly important due to the rapid growth in the use of lithium-ion batteries across sectors. He noted that used batteries should not be treated merely as waste, as they contain several valuable metals that can be recovered and reused.

“Natural mineral resources are limited, while the demand for lithium-ion batteries is increasing rapidly. Waste batteries should be viewed as an important secondary resource,” he said.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in mobile phones, laptops, power banks, electric vehicles, solar energy storage systems and other energy applications. However, once these batteries reach the end of their life cycle, improper disposal can create environmental and health hazards. Experts say scientific recycling offers a solution by recovering critical materials that can be reused in manufacturing new batteries and other industrial products.

CSIR-NML has been working extensively in the fields of metal extraction, resource recovery and battery recycling. The laboratory has developed advanced metallurgical processes that enable the safe and efficient extraction of valuable materials from battery waste.

A key role in developing the technology was played by Dr. Manis Kumar Jha, Chief Scientist and Project Leader at CSIR-NML, along with his research team. Their work focuses on recovering strategic metals from waste batteries and other secondary resources while promoting environmental sustainability and resource security.

The agreement is expected to help CircuOre establish efficient battery recycling operations and contribute to the domestic supply of critical materials required for electric vehicles, electronics and energy storage systems.

Present during the signing ceremony were Dr. Sandip Ghosh Chowdhury, Director, CSIR-NML; Dr. Manis Kumar Jha, Chief Scientist and Project Leader; Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Head of Metal Extraction Division; Jay Shankar Sharan, CoA, CSIR-NML; and Dr. Ankur Sharma. Business Head Dr. S.K. Pal and Dr. Beena Kumari also played important roles in facilitating the agreement.

Officials said the collaboration reflects the spirit of sustainable development and public-private partnership. By enabling the recovery and reuse of valuable metals from waste batteries, the initiative will support environmental protection, industrial development, resource security and the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.