Epsilon Carbon, TMC ink pact for green cathodes

Makers of conventional anodes, Epsilon now plans to set up the world's first nodule processing plant at an investment of Rs1200 crore. Shahkar Abidi reports on how the company is taking the inorganic route to optimize potential of this eco-friendly extraction process.

- Shahkar Abidi

TMC, an explorer of lower-impact battery metals from seafloor polymetallic nodules aims to reduce emissions through an unconventional method of mining rare metals used in Lithium-ion batteries.

Epsilon Carbon, which is a leading producer of graphite materials, recently signed an MoU with Nasdaq-listed, The Metals Company (TMC). The pact is primarily for conducting a pre-feasibility study for a commercial-scale deep-sea nodule processing plant in India. The ultimate aim is to cut down emissions in the production process of lithium-ion batteries using lower-impact battery metals from seafloor polymetallic nodules.

TMC, through its subsidiaries, plans to supply polymetallic nodules and onshore processing expertise while Epsilon Carbon will finance, engineer, permit, build and operate the Project Zero Plant. The targeted production capacity of the plant will be more than 30,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) of the intermediate nickel-copper-cobalt matte product used in nickel-rich cathode chemistries for lithium-ion batteries and Autocar Professional learns that the plan is to scale up production to 10 mtpa. Setting-up and running the plant is expected to cost Rs 1200 crore in the first phase, kickstarting from Q4FY24. Hunt is also on for a third partner who can help with the manufacturing process.