Visakhapatnam — Atchutapuram Refinery
Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh facility: hydrometallurgical refinery converting black mass into battery-grade lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese salts. Rated at 13,000 tonnes per annum and operating since 2022.
Annual capacity
13,000 TPA
Operating lines
3
Cities collected
0
In operation since
2022
About the Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh facility
Atchutapuram, south of Visakhapatnam, is part of Andhra Pradesh's coastal industrial belt and lies close to the deep-water port facilities of India's east coast. The refinery opened in the APSEZ in 2022 to add refining capacity near shipping routes, complementing the Haldia works further north and giving southern and eastern campuses a second destination for their black mass. Feed arrives mainly by road from campuses in the south and east.
At 13,000 TPA, the refinery receives black mass from network campuses and registered processors and converts it into battery-grade nickel, cobalt and lithium salts. As one of the newer sites, it runs modern leaching and solvent-extraction lines, and its coastal location suits both inbound reagent supply and outbound shipment of finished material to manufacturers. Output batches carry full analysis certificates for producers' reporting.
What arrives at the gate
What sets this site apart
East-coast port access
Close to Visakhapatnam's ports for inbound reagents and outbound refined salts.
Newer process lines
Opened in 2022 with current-generation leaching and solvent-extraction equipment.
Second eastern refinery
Adds east-coast refining capacity alongside the Haldia works.
What happens to material here
- 1
Feed assay & sampling
Incoming black mass is homogenised and assayed by ICP-OES for Li, Ni, Co, Mn, Cu, Al and fluoride before it is released to leach.
- 2
Sulphuric acid leaching
Two-stage leach at 60–85 °C with peroxide reductant dissolves cathode metals at 96–99% extraction efficiency.
- 3
Impurity removal
Iron, aluminium and copper are precipitated and filtered; graphite is recovered as a separate low-ash cake.
- 4
Solvent extraction trains
Sequential Co, Ni and Mn circuits with counter-current mixer-settlers deliver individual metal raffinates.
- 5
Crystallisation & drying
Nickel and cobalt sulphate hexahydrate plus lithium carbonate are crystallised to 99.5%+ battery grade and bagged under nitrogen.
- 6
Batch certification
Every batch ships with a certificate of analysis, mass balance and chain-of-custody record for EPR and IRA reporting.
Where material goes next
| Role | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Grading & Diagnostics | Bengaluru — Hosur Diagnostics Centre | 761 km |
| Second-Life BESS Works | Nagpur — Butibori Second-Life Works | 558 km |
| Integrated Recovery Campus | Hyderabad — Zaheerabad Recovery Campus | 558 km |
Local rules
Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 (BWMR) · Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards
The refinery operates under Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board consent, with conditions covering effluent treatment, air emissions and hazardous chemical storage. As a registered recycler it generates recovery evidence for producers under the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, and port-linked movements follow customs and applicable waste-shipment controls.
Before you book into Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh
- Only black mass and cathode scrap are accepted at this site.
- Bulk bags must be sealed, labelled and accompanied by declared chemistry.
- Port-linked consignments need documentation before arrival.
- Sampling at intake determines settlement; results are shared with the consignor.
Damaged or defective packs are handled under a separate quarantine protocol — flag them in the form and the team calls you back the same day.
Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh site: common questions
What does the Atchutapuram refinery produce?
Battery-grade nickel, cobalt and lithium salts refined from black mass feed.
Can I deliver shredded material here?
Yes, if it is black mass with declared chemistry that meets the agreed specification.
What are the opening hours at Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh?
Monday to Friday 08:00 – 20:00, Saturday 08:00 – 16:00. Sunday: emergency and damaged-pack intake only, by prior booking.
How do I book a collection into Atchutapuram, Andhra Pradesh?
Use the booking button on this page with pack counts, chemistry and condition. The despatch desk confirms a window within one working day and ships UN-approved packaging before collection.