Page 146 - CW E-Magazine (25-2-2025)

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PLI SCHEME RARE EARTHS

Government initiates bidding process for 10-GWh IREL expansion project commissioned in FY25:

ACC batteries Minister

The Ministries of Heavy Industries ACC industry, with key interventions Indian Rare Earths Ltd. (IREL) rating Micro, Small & Medium Enter- Industry and Security (BIS) removed
(MHI) and New & Renewable Energy including exemptions on Basic Cus- commissioned an expansion project in prises (MSMEs), thus enhancing eco- restrictions on IREL, Bhabha Atomic
(MNRE) have initiated the bidding toms Duty for the import of capital FY25 at its plant in Chatrapur, Ganjam nomic growth and employment in the Research Centre (BARC) and Indira
process for the balance 10-GWh capa- goods, certain critical minerals and (Odisha), to increase the annual capa- vicinity,”Mr. Singh noted. Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IG-
city for Grid Scale Stationary Storage lithium-ion battery waste and scrap. city of its mineral production by 200-ktpa CAR). The removal “will support US
(GSSS) applications under the Produc- According to analysts, these mea- and improve the effi ciency of the plant. “At present, there are no chal- foreign policy objectives by reducing
tion Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme sures will likely boost domestic manu- lenges faced by the plant in terms of barriers to advanced energy coop-
for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) facturing by reducing raw material “Besides, IREL is regularly infus- infrastructure, technology or market eration, including joint research and
Battery Storage Production. ACC capacity. In Round 1, the govern- costs, lowering equipment costs, ing new technologies to boost produc- demand,” he added. IREL has plants at development and science and technology
ment had approved three companies: and strengthening the supply chain tion of atomic minerals including rare Chavara in Kollam district of Kerala; cooperation, towards shared energy
MHI has already completed bid- ACC Energy Storage Pvt. Ltd. (5-GWh); for critical battery materials and earth (RE) bearing minerals through Manavalakurichi in Kanyakumari security needs and goals,” BIS said.
ding of Round-2 (10-GWh) for which Ola Cell Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (20- minerals. CAPEX infusion,” Minister of State district of Tamil Nadu; and at Chatrapur
the Letter of Award was issued to GWh); and Reliance New Energy Bat- for the Prime Minister’s Offi ce (PMO), in Ganjam district of Odisha. In FY24, “The removal of three Indian enti-
Reliance Industries for 10-GWh capa- tery Storage Ltd. (5-GWh). India imports most critical minerals Mr. Jitendra Singh, said in a written IREL reported a mineral production of ties will enable closer cooperation bet-
city on September 6, 2024, and signing like lithium, nickel, and cobalt needed response in Rajya Sabha recently. 53-kt, a growth of 3.3%year-on-year. ween the US and India to secure more
of ‘Programme Agreement’ is in an Cumulative investments of Rs. 1,575- for ACC battery manufacturing. The This was the highest-ever mineral resilient critical minerals and clean
advanced stage. crore and employment of 889 have current BCD on these materials is in “The operations of IREL have also production achieved by the company. energy supply chains,” Principal Deputy
been generated by the benefi ciary fi rms the range of 5-10%. The exemption of stimulated economic activities since Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
The government had approved the till December 2024. 35 additional capital equipment items the minerals produced by IREL are US restrictions removed Export Administration, Mr. Matthew
‘National Programme on Advanced from BCD, along with the previous 22 utilised by a number of locally-ope- Last month, the US Bureau of Borman said.
Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage Budget support exemptions, would also signifi cantly
Production’ in May 2021, with an The FY26 Budget has introduced lower the costs for lithium-ion battery GREEN HYDROGEN
outlay of Rs. 18,100-crore for 50-GWh signifi cant support for the domestic manufacturers for EVs.
Waaree Group launches 300-MW electrolyser plant
URGENT INTERVENTION
in Gujarat
Industry urges curbs on duty-free edible oil imports The Waaree Group, a leading manu- tions with an initial capacity of ration. Waaree has secured a Produc-

from Nepal facturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) 300-MW in its fi rst phase. tion Linked Incentive (PLI) for creating
manufacturing facilities for 300-MW
modules, celebrated the groundbreak-
The Indian edible oil industry has India, jumping from just 687-tonnes in free status to avoid normal import ing of its new Alkaline Electrolyser The company aims to supply elec- of electrolysers and 90-ktpa of green
raised concerns over a sudden and July-August 2024 to 56,444-tonnes duties. manufacturing facility in Valsad, trolysers to major industries including hydrogen under the Government of
massive infl ux of refi ned soybean and between 15 December 2024 and Gujarat, on February 10. The facility is steel, refi ning, transportation, fertili- India’s Strategic Interventions for Green
palm oil from Nepal, which they claim 15 January 2025. The figures show “The sudden increase in duty-free set to commence commercial opera- sers, chemicals, food, and power gene- Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) scheme.
is bypassing trade rules and severely a steady increase over the months – imports of edible oil is a planned ap-
impacting domestic refi ners, farmers, 2,240-tonnes in August-September, proach by traders in other countries to ELECTRIC MOBILITY
and government revenue. 6,765-tonnes in September-October, bypass the normal route of duty-paid
18,165-tonnes in October-November, imports of edible oil, which are not Eastman and Urja Mobility sign MoU for lithium-ion
In a letter to the Prime Minister, and 32,816-tonnes in November- even produced in the SAFTA region,”
industry representatives called for December. said Mr. Sanjeev Asthana, President, batteries
immediate intervention to regulate the Solvent Extraction Association (SEA). Eastman Auto and Power Ltd. Mobility), a leader in battery leasing in engage Eastman for supplying 20,000+
duty-free imports, which they say are Experts allege Nepal-based trad- He further warned that the infl ux of (EAPL), a leader in the Indian energy the electric three-wheeler segment, for lithium-ion batteries. Eastman will
fl ooding the Indian market under the ers are importing these oils from these oils is no longer limited to northern storage sector through its subsidiary, the development and deployment of also integrate Urja Mobility’s IoT and
South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) countries such as Malaysia, Indo- and eastern India but is now disrupting Eastman New Energy Pvt. Ltd., has advanced lithium-ion battery techno- software solutions into the battery to
agreement. Data reveals a sharp rise nesia, Argentina, and Brazil, and markets in southern and central regions announced a strategic partnership logy for electric vehicles. As part of the enable remote monitoring and ana-
in Nepal’s exports of edible oils to taking advantage of SAFTA’s duty- as well. with MTOW Mobility Pvt. Ltd. (Urja collaboration, Urja Mobility will lytics.

146 Chemical Weekly February 25, 2025 Chemical Weekly February 25, 2025 147

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