- REEs can be extracted from e-waste with 98% recovery efficiency
- Expansion aligns with India’s Critical Minerals Mission
India-based Attero, a leading electronic waste and lithium-ion battery recycling company, plans to invest INR 100 crore ($12 million) to scale up its rare earth recycling capacity from 300 tonnes (t) to 30,000 t per year over the next 12 to 24 months, the company’s CEO said last week during a press interaction.
Strategic expansion
The investment follows China’s April 2025 restrictions on rare earth exports. With industries such as electric vehicles, wind energy, and electronics highly dependent on rare earth elements like neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), and dysprosium (Dy), Attero aims to provide a sustainable and local solution to bridge the supply gap.
“We are ready to scale our REE capacity from 1 to 100 tonnes per day, aiming for 30,000 tonnes annually,” Gupta stated. “This INR 100 crore investment supports our vision to lead India’s push for critical mineral independence.”
Proprietary technology, global patent portfolio
Attero is one of the few globally certified lithium-ion battery recyclers with fully integrated, in-house solutions–spanning collection, dismantling, recovery, and refining. The company holds 46+ global patents, with recent grants in India, China, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
Its patented tech allows for rare earth extraction from end-of-life electronics like laptops, hard drives, and wearables, achieving 98% recovery efficiency and 99.9% purity, while being energy- and cost-efficient and emitting significantly lower CO₂ than traditional mining.
Backing India’s critical minerals strategy
Attero’s expansion directly aligns with the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) launched earlier this year, which emphasises recycling as a strategic tool to build self-reliance and reduce import dependence in critical minerals.
“We’ve long advocated for India’s independence in this space. Our deep-tech IP allows us to recover high-value rare earths responsibly and at scale,” Gupta said.
Operational growth
In FY2025, Attero processed over 150,000 tonnes of e-waste and 15,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries, targeting 100% year-on-year growth. The company plans to scale up to 415,000 tonnes of e-waste and 50,000 tonnes of battery recycling annually.
Attero is also pursuing international expansion, with operations being planned in Europe and the US. Its rare earth patents have been recognised across India, China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Taiwan.
Market outlook
According to company-shared estimates, the global rare earth element market is expected to reach $10.9 billion by 2029, growing at a 12.6% CAGR, while REE magnets are projected to exceed $30.3 billion by 2033.
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