Hindalco to invest INR 800 Crore for 25,000-ton battery foil plant in Odisha

Hindalco Industries, a prominent aluminum rolling and recycling company, is set to invest INR 800 crore in establishing a state-of-the-art battery foil manufacturing facility near Sambalpur in Odisha. The proposed 25,000-ton plant, expected to be operational by July 2025, aims to meet the surging demand for high-quality aluminum foil crucial for Lithium-ion and Sodium-ion cells, especially in the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage sectors.

As per the official statement, Hindalco has advanced its technology for producing high-quality battery foils at its Mouda unit in Maharashtra. The Mouda facility is presently undergoing qualification with Lithium-ion cell manufacturers in India, Europe, and the United States. The upcoming unit in Odisha is expected to enhance the company’s capacity to provide materials to Gigafactories globally. Leveraging its expertise in metallurgy, extensive experience in sheet and foil rolling, and access to aluminium metal, Hindalco aims to improve its advanced application foils’ mechanical strength, thickness, and surface characteristics. The company is also engaged in research and development to introduce coatings that enhance performance by improving adhesion, reducing resistance, and minimizing corrosion.

The demand for battery-grade aluminium foil in India is anticipated to experience significant growth, reaching 40,000 tonnes by 2030. This surge is primarily attributed to the expanding presence of gigafactories engaged in advanced cell manufacturing.

“We are seeing a fast traction in battery materials demand, driven by an impressive outlook for the Electric Vehicle and Grid Storage sectors. Raw material localization is critical in such strategic sectors,” said Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries. “Hindalco is thus making various investments in battery materials and technologies towards building Atmanirbhar Bharat. Investment in this new battery foil mill is another such step in this direction.”

In addition to supporting the government’s green initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, Hindalco is collaborating with original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to co-develop critical components such as battery enclosures, motor housings, busbars, structural and safety components, and lightweight load bodies. These investments signify Hindalco’s transition from a conventional metal manufacturer to a provider of advanced metal solutions.

The factory will be situated next to a 25 MW solar power plant and has the capability to utilize additional solar energy through a 400 KV National Grid connection, as claimed by the source. It is scheduled for commissioning in July 2025 and will complement Hindalco’s existing facility in Mouda, Maharashtra. Hindalco was acknowledged as the world’s most sustainable aluminum company in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

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