Clean-tech recycling and materials firm Lohum has inaugurated India’s first rare earth magnet manufacturing plant in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, marking a major step toward building domestic capacity in critical minerals and clean-energy components. The new facility aims to reduce India’s import dependence on magnets essential for electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, and electronics, while strengthening the country’s position in the global energy transition. The initiative aligns with India’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India missions, promoting self-reliance in high-value materials crucial for renewable energy and e-mobility technologies.
Strengthening India’s Rare Earth Supply Chain
Lohum’s new plant represents a strategic milestone in India’s effort to localize the supply chain for critical components used in clean technologies. Rare earth magnets—particularly neodymium and samarium-cobalt-based variants—are vital to the functioning of electric motors, hybrid vehicles, and wind turbines.
Currently, a majority of the global supply is dominated by China, which controls over 80% of rare earth processing and magnet manufacturing. By establishing a domestic facility, Lohum aims to mitigate supply chain risks and reduce import costs that have historically impacted India’s clean-tech and electronics sectors.
Company executives stated that the facility will integrate advanced recycling technologies to recover valuable rare earth elements from end-of-life batteries and electronic waste, ensuring both sustainability and circularity in production.
Capacity, Technology, and Strategic Vision
The newly launched unit will initially focus on producing high-performance permanent magnets used in EV drivetrains and renewable energy applications. The company plans to scale production capacity in subsequent phases to meet the growing demand from domestic manufacturers and global partners.
Lohum has already established itself as one of India’s largest players in battery materials recycling and secondary raw materials production, with expertise spanning lithium-ion batteries and other critical metals. The addition of magnet manufacturing strengthens its integrated approach to clean-tech materials.
The company’s technological framework leverages closed-loop recycling, enabling the recovery and reuse of metals such as neodymium, dysprosium, and praseodymium, which are essential for high-efficiency magnet production.
Economic and Environmental Impact
Industry experts view Lohum’s magnet plant as a strategic enabler for India’s clean energy economy, potentially reducing the country’s rare earth magnet imports by up to 25% over the next few years. Beyond economic gains, the project underscores the importance of sustainable manufacturing practices—a growing global priority as nations race to decarbonize their energy and mobility sectors.
By integrating circular economy principles into magnet production, Lohum’s initiative could serve as a blueprint for other Indian firms to adopt green manufacturing models. The facility is also expected to generate skilled employment opportunities in advanced materials engineering and recycling technologies in the region.
Alignment with National Clean-Tech Goals
The launch comes at a pivotal time when India is pushing to become a global hub for electric mobility and renewable energy manufacturing. The government’s initiatives under Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and the National Electric Mobility Mission have created an environment conducive to local innovation in clean-tech components.
Lohum’s magnet manufacturing capability directly supports these national goals, positioning India to capture a larger share of the global EV and renewable energy value chains. By localizing the production of critical components, the company not only enhances India’s industrial competitiveness but also strengthens its strategic autonomy in critical mineral resources.
Conclusion: A Strategic Leap Toward Clean-Tech Self-Reliance
Lohum’s entry into rare earth magnet production represents a transformative step in India’s clean-tech landscape, bridging the gap between material recovery and advanced manufacturing. As the global demand for sustainable technologies accelerates, India’s ability to domestically produce key components like rare earth magnets will be crucial to maintaining cost efficiency and resilience.
With its innovative circular approach and forward-looking investments, Lohum is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s sustainable industrial future, fostering economic growth while driving the nation’s transition toward energy independence and environmental responsibility.
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