Vidyuta Secures ECMS Approval for 20 KTPA Cathode Active Material Capacity

Vidyuta, a subsidiary of recycling firm Lohum, has received approval for 20 KTPA of cathode active material manufacturing capacity under the government's Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme, the company said. The project involves a total capital investment of ₹500 crore, of which up to ₹125 crore is supported through a capex-linked incentive, BusinessLine reported on November 10, 2026.

Vidyuta's First LCO Approval Under ECMS

Vidyuta is the first LCO (lithium cobalt oxide) cathode active material company to receive approval under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme, according to the company. Cathode active material is a critical component of lithium-ion cells, and the approval brings the cathode into the scheme's support for India's cell materials ecosystem alongside anode material and other battery materials.

The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, launched in April last year to build a self-sustainable domestic electronics component manufacturing ecosystem. Vidyuta's production line is designed for LCO cathode active materials in both polycrystalline and single-crystal forms, giving cell manufacturers the flexibility to specify chemistry and morphology from a single supply partner.

The project forms part of the Lohum group's integrated value chain: lithium, cobalt and nickel refined by the company, including critical minerals recovered from spent lithium-ion batteries, are used to produce cathode active material at Vidyuta for cell manufacturers in India. "Cathode is where much of a battery's value and performance is decided," said Ankit Sharma, Co-founder and CEO at Vidyuta. "This approval under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme allows Vidyuta, a Lohum company, to scale cathode active material production in India, drawing on critical minerals refined at Lohum."

Rajat Verma, Founder and CEO of Lohum, said the approval gives cell manufacturers a domestic source for one of the most valuable materials in an electronics battery. Lohum appointed Nobel Laureate Konstantin Novoselov as Chief Scientist of its advanced materials incubation platform on October 28, 2026, BusinessLine reported.

Vidyuta's Company Profile

Vidyuta is a privately held, early-stage company founded in 2024 and based in Greater Noida, India, with approximately 9 employees, according to akta.pro company records. The same records list its headcount range at 1-10, a revenue estimate of pre-revenue and a valuation estimate under $10 million.

What Comes Next for Vidyuta

Citing Niti Aayog, the company said positive active material accounts for nearly half the cost of a lithium-ion battery pack and estimated that India's advanced chemistry cell manufacturing will need about 1,93,000 tonne of cathode active material a year to produce around 100 GWh of batteries by 2030.