New Delhi, March 05, 2025: India’s leading producer Lohum Cleantech of sustainable critical minerals, has announced the enhancement of its lithium refining capabilities with a facility that will yield 1,000 MT/A of battery-grade lithium.
Lohum, as of now refines over 90% of the lithium in India, positioning itself as one of the largest lithium refiners globally, outside of China. The company’s lithium refining operations will bolster India’s energy security and enhance the nation’s competitiveness in the global markets for critical minerals, electric vehicles, and energy transition.
Having experienced a twentyfold growth in the past four years, Lohum not only stands as the largest lithium refiner in India but is also developing production capabilities for value-added products such as Cathode Active Materials (CAM), which are essential for lithium-ion battery gigafactories. By 2030, Lohum is projected to become the largest direct consumer of lithium in India, coinciding with an anticipated global demand of nearly 1.5 million tons of lithium carbonate annually for 4,000 GWh of cell production, with over half of this demand expected to arise from outside China.
China has been known to exploit its market dominance by strategically underpricing minerals or restricting access to materials and technologies. In January 2025, China imposed limitations on the export of lithium refining technology, as well as on the technology and equipment necessary for the latest generation of LFP battery technology, a lithium-based product for which China holds over 95% of global capacity. In light of these developments, India has the opportunity to lead in mitigating risks associated with this China-centric global supply chain.
China’s preeminence in this sector is attributed to the scale of operations of its local refiners, substantial domestic consumption, and a strong emphasis on product purity. Lohum is swiftly narrowing the gap in all three areas.
