In a bid to achieve self-reliance and reduce global dependence on Cathode materials, India is foraying into Cathode Active Material (CAM) production through public –private partnership.

The ARCI (International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials), which works under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, in collaboration with Altmin has come out with the maiden product – Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (LFP), the key component of CAMs. The LFP is required in the manufacturing of advanced Lithium-Ion cells that would support the burgeoning EV industry and other industrial applications.

Located within ARCI campus at Balapur, Hyderabad, the 10 megawatts pilot plant is all set to roll out. The sprawling hi-tech factory is spread out over 5000 Sq Feet and will start producing 100 kilos per day. Altmin is poised to clock a turnover of $80 Million within one year of production.

ARCI has joined forces with Altmin as technology partners and has backed the company’s R&D endeavours alongside international players.  The licensing of the CAM produced through Altmin -ARCI partnership lies exclusively with Altmin internationally while at the domestic front, Altmin has a non-exclusive arrangement. Altmin has already secured interest from major battery players for product deployment in India and globally. 

As for Lithium procurement, the key mineral required for the production of CAM, Altmin has partnered up with YLB, Bolivia for a consistent and secure supply of battery grade lithium carbonate necessary for the planned production and future scale up.

Speaking on the launch of the pilot plant, Mourya Sunkavalli, Founder & CEO, Altmin said, “At Altmin, we have put in years of R&D, studied the market & the supply chain carefully and came up with a technology that is fool-proof, economical and sustainable through technology partners and collaborations both in India and abroad. ARCI has been a true team player; they have been relentless in their efforts to develop the most efficient product with us. We are glad that our Cathode Materials have done phenomenally well at lab level and are bolstered by thorough research. I’m very confident that we will be India’s leader in cathode materials and Tier 1 supplier to global OEMs, while creating a secure supply chain in India and supporting the local clean energy transition domestically.”

Tata Narsinga Rao, Director, ARCI, said, “Altmin is an emerging hi-tech manufacturing company with a clear vision of addressing supply challenges of battery material for the future battery companies across the globe. ARCI, being a translational materials research lab, has developed along with Altmin a novel process to make one of the key cathode materials (Lithium iron phosphate) which is a safe and low-cost material suitable for tropical conditions. Identifying Altmin as a potential partner for commercializing the technology, ARCI has entered into agreements with Altmin for technology transfer and establishing a pilot facility at the incubator facility at ARCI. I am very confident that Altmin will become a global supplier of battery materials and wish them all the success.”

Altmin strives to scale up production year on year to achieve a 3 Giga-Watt capacity by 2025 and start production at strategic locations in other parts of the country.