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Proposed refinery will process Lithium ore to produce battery-grade material.
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Proposed by BHEL in partnership with private firms.
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For the refinery Lithium ore would be imported from Australia as Lithium is a rare element not usually found in India.
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With India poised to become one of the largest electric car market of the world, the refinery would help India reduce import bill on imported Lithium Ion Battery.
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Import of Lithium-ion batteries quadrupled to 712 million batteries in 2018 from 175 million in 2016.
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China, Hong Kong and Vietnam were the leading sources of imports.
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Lithium-ion battery is one of the most promising electrochemical energy storage technologies owing to its high voltage capacity, high energy density, long life cycle and high storage characteristics.
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It finds wide applications in electronic gadgets, tele-communications and Industrial applications as well as in aerospace.
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Recent progress in Lithium-ion battery technology has made it a favourite power source for electric and hybrid electric vehicles.