{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-10/vidyuta-ecms-cathode-approval","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-10/vidyuta-ecms-cathode-approval.md","title":"Vidyuta Wins Approval for 20 KTPA Cathode Plant","headline":"Vidyuta Secures ECMS Approval for 20 KTPA Cathode Active Material Capacity","description":"Vidyuta won ECMS approval for 20 KTPA of LCO cathode active material capacity backed by a ₹500 crore investment, with up to ₹125 crore in capex incentives.","section":"Regulation & Approvals","published_at":"2026-11-10T11:05:17+00:00","modified_at":"2026-11-10T11:05:17+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Vidyuta received approval for 20 KTPA of LCO cathode active material capacity under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme.","The project carries a total capital investment of ₹500 crore, with up to ₹125 crore supported through a capex-linked incentive.","Vidyuta is the first LCO cathode active material company to receive ECMS approval, according to the company."],"companies":[{"name":"VIDYUTA","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/005k9il/vidyuta","website":"https://vidyuta.com"},{"name":"Lohum","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00032aa/lohum","website":"https://www.lohum.com"}],"source":{"publisher":"BusinessLine","title":"Vidyuta gets nod for cathode active material manufacturing capacity under ECMS","url":"https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/vidyuta-gets-nod-for-cathode-active-material-manufacturing-capacity-under-ecms/article71685728.ece"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Regulation & Approvals","VIDYUTA","Lohum"],"body_markdown":"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](https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/vidyuta-gets-nod-for-cathode-active-material-manufacturing-capacity-under-ecms/article71685728.ece) reported on November 10, 2026.\n\n## Vidyuta's First LCO Approval Under ECMS\n\n[Vidyuta](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/005k9il/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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nThe 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.\"\n\nRajat 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](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00032aa/lohum) appointed Nobel Laureate Konstantin Novoselov as Chief Scientist of its advanced materials incubation platform on October 28, 2026, BusinessLine reported.\n\n## Vidyuta's Company Profile\n\nVidyuta 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](https://akta.pro/company-data). The same records list its headcount range at 1-10, a revenue estimate of pre-revenue and a valuation estimate under $10 million.\n\n## What Comes Next for Vidyuta\n\nCiting 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.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}