LOHUM Begins Lithium Mining Operations In Zimbabwe

Noida-based sustainable critical mineral producer LOHUM claims to have become “first Indian company to start lithium operations globally”, announcing the dispatch of its first tranche of lithium ore from Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Province. 

In a social media post, the startup said it now holds mining rights across ten spodumene-bearing blocks in Zimbabwe covering approximately 1,100 hectares, with an option to extend to 90 additional blocks. 

LOHUM is targeting an annual production capacity of roughly 30,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate within two to three years. 

“We remain committed to building integrated capabilities from mine to cathode to circularity, with concentration capacity developed in Zimbabwe so that value addition is shared,” LOHUM said. 

Founded in 2018 by Rajat Verma, LOHUM produces sustainable energy transition materials through integrated battery recycling & raw material refining and battery repurposing.Its offers critical mineral products like lithium, cobalt, nickel, platinum, among other rare earth metals.

It used multi-stage hydrometallurgical energy transition material recycling tech to produce pure metallic lithium in September 2023, becoming the first non-Chinese company to do so through recycling. 

The startup last raised $54 Mn in its Series B round back in 2024 to expand into new energy transition materials markets in North America, the EU, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Backed by the likes of Singularity, Vyoman India Private Limited, VenturEast, among others, it has raised over $120 Mn till date. 

India Pushes For Critical Mineral Import Independence

India currently relies on imports for nearly 100% of its lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery requirements. By starting international operations, LOHUM says that it is advancing the goal of the Central Government’s ₹34,300 Cr National Critical Mineral Mission, which aims to acquire up to 50 overseas mining assets to reduce import vulnerability. 

Notably, union minister for coal and mines G Kishan Reddy has in the past said that India could potentially meet the demand for critical minerals, such as lithium, locally within three to four years.

The ministry of mines had also earlier sought assistance from several foreign countries including Australia and the US with technical help on lithium processing, per reports from 2024. 

India’s EV industry is seeing steady growth and adoption from consumers and enterprises. At the same time, several startups have also entered the battery technology space, with some aiming to support EV makers by recycling batteries and recovering critical minerals. 

For example, Delhi NCR-based battery recycling startup BatX Energies recently raised ₹105 Cr in a Series A funding round led by IvyCap Ventures. Karo Sambhav, another startup that focuses on e-waste recycling to recover critical, precious and high-value materials, also raised ₹56 Cr in pre-Series A funding from Rainmatter.

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