Is Attero Investing Rs 100 Crore to Increase Rare Earth Recycling Capacity to 30,000 Tonnes?

New Delhi, June 19 (NationPress) E-waste recycling firm Attero has revealed plans to dramatically enhance its rare earth element (REE) recycling capabilities, scaling up to 30,000 tonnes from 300 tonnes in the coming 12 to 24 months through an investment of Rs 100 crore.

This initiative aligns with the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) instituted by the government in 2025, aiming to diminish import reliance and foster self-sufficiency in critical mineral supply chains, as stated by the world’s leading recycler of lithium-ion batteries.

Rare earth elements like Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr), and Dysprosium (Dy) are vital for industries such as electric vehicles, wind energy, and consumer electronics.

With the global REE market expected to hit $10.9 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 12.6%, and REE magnets projected to surpass $30.3 billion by 2033, developing domestic recycling and extraction abilities has become a national imperative.

“Attero has continually championed India’s independence in critical minerals to lessen import dependency and challenge China's supremacy in rare earth supply chains. We take pride in being the only Indian enterprise with established deep-tech and globally patented methodologies to refine black mass and recover rare earth elements with over 98% efficiency and 99.9% purity,” stated Nitin Gupta, CEO and Co-founder of Attero.

The prevailing global conditions amplify the necessity for developing local infrastructure.

“Leveraging our current capabilities and technological prowess, we aim to boost our REE recycling capacity from 1 to 100 tonnes daily, ultimately reaching 30,000 tonnes annually, with plans for further growth as demand escalates. Our investment of Rs 100 crore is dedicated to this expansion,” Gupta emphasized.

Attero’s patented technology permits the extraction of REEs from e-waste and obsolete electronics like hard disk drives, laptops, neckbands, and earphones; devices rich in concentrations of Nd, Pr, Ce, Gd, and Dy. This process is not only energy-efficient and cost-effective but also significantly curtails greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional mining.

Furthermore, Attero remains the sole Indian firm capable of refining black mass—a critical output from used lithium-ion batteries—into high-purity materials, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, solidifying its leadership in the circular economy for critical metals.

In FY25, the company successfully processed over 150,000 tonnes of e-waste and 15,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries annually, aiming for a year-on-year growth of 100%.