Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Hindalco), the metal flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, has announced that it will set up a battery foil manufacturing plant near Sambalpur in the Eastern State of Odisha, India.
Aluminum foil is a key component of rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems – two markets presenting significant growth opportunities. As part of the plan, Hindalco will invest INR 800 crore to build a new plant which will initially produce 25,000 tonnes that can be used in lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery cells.
"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 Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Investment in this new battery foil mill is another such step in this direction."
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The company said it has achieved a technology breakthrough in manufacturing fine-quality battery foils at its Mouda manufacturing unit in Maharashtra and is currently in the talks of qualifying its product with Li-ion manufacturers in India, Europe, and the United States.
Additionally, Hindalco is also working closely with original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to co-develop and make critical components like battery enclosures, motor housings, busbars, structural and safety components, and lightweight load bodies, many of which are being designed and developed for the first time in India.
The battery foil plant is scheduled to be commissioned by July 2025.