Himadri Speciality Chemical is preparing for a major strategic transformation as it strengthens its footprint in the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. Aligned with global efforts to diversify supply chains, the company has announced plans to enter the lithium-ion battery materials market and position itself as a key supplier to the fast-growing EV segment. The expansion aligns with Himadri’s long-term vision to participate in the global shift toward electric mobility. It also aims to capitalise on rising demand for high-quality battery components.

Positioning as a ‘China Plus One’ Supplier

At the core of Himadri’s strategy is its ambition to emerge as a “China Plus One” supplier of lithium-ion battery materials. As Western markets increasingly seek to reduce dependence on China-centric supply chains for critical EV components, Himadri aims to offer a reliable, non-Chinese alternative. By leveraging domestic manufacturing capabilities, the company aims to strengthen its production base. Through advanced technology partnerships, it seeks to establish itself as a trusted global supplier across key battery material segments.

Investments Across Critical Battery Material Segments

To build a comprehensive battery materials platform, Himadri is investing across multiple high-growth areas:

LFP Cathode Manufacturing: Himadri is setting up what it claims will be the first commercial lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode active material plant outside China. Located in Odisha, the facility targets a long-term capacity of 200,000 MTPA. Phase I, with a capacity of 40,000 MTPA, is expected to commence by Q3 FY27.

Advanced Anode Materials: In partnership with Sicona Battery Technologies, the company is developing natural, synthetic, and silicon–carbon anodes. These materials are expected to deliver 20 per cent higher energy density and 40 per cent faster charging compared to conventional solutions.

Specialty Carbon Black: Himadri is expanding its Singur plant, increasing capacity from 60,000 MTPA to 130,000 MTPA by Q3 FY26. This expansion will support growing demand for battery-grade carbon materials.

Strategic Investments and Vertical Integration

In addition to organic capacity expansion, Himadri is strengthening its EV strategy through strategic investments and vertical integration. The company has acquired a 16.24 per cent stake in US-based International Battery Company (IBC). This gives it access to manufacturing facilities in South Korea and an upcoming gigafactory in Bengaluru.

Financial Vision Backed by Balanced Growth

Himadri has committed ₹4,800 crore in investments over the next five to six years to support its battery materials ambitions. The company expects this vertical to significantly enhance earnings, with a target of over ₹800 crore in profit after tax by FY27. As reported by electricvehicletalks.com, Himadri is accelerating its EV-focused growth. At the same time, it will continue to expand its core coal tar business as a stable cash-flow engine to support this transformation.

Baettr, a Danish manufacturer of renewable energy equipment, has broken ground on a major capacity expansion at its wind turbine casting facility located at the SIPCOT Industrial Park in Thervoy Kandigai, Gummidipoondi, near Chennai.

₹73 Crore Expansion to Significantly Boost Capacity

The ₹73 crore expansion will raise Baettr’s total investment in the facility to approximately ₹280 crore. Once completed, the plant’s annual production capacity for saleable castings will increase sharply—from 27,500 tonnes to 95,040 tonnes. As a result, the facility will nearly quadruple its current capacity, positioning Baettr to better serve the growing needs of the wind energy sector.

Meeting Rising Demand from Wind Turbine OEMs

The expansion directly responds to rising demand from wind turbine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Moreover, it reinforces Baettr’s strategy to strengthen its manufacturing footprint in India as global demand for renewable energy equipment accelerates.

Tamil Nadu Emerges as a Renewable Manufacturing Hub

At the same time, the project highlights Tamil Nadu’s increasing importance as a manufacturing hub for renewable energy components. The state’s industrial infrastructure, skilled workforce, and policy support continue to attract global players in clean energy manufacturing.

Supporting the Global Energy Transition

As reported by projectstoday.com, overall, the investment underscores Tamil Nadu’s role in supporting the global transition to renewable energy. Through this expansion, Baettr demonstrates a strong commitment to scaling sustainable manufacturing and meeting the evolving demands of the global renewable energy market.

India ranks among the world’s top three countries in rare earth reserves, yet its production remains well below one percent of global output, exposing a significant gap between resource availability and actual extraction, according to a report by Amicus Growth.

Reserve Strength Places India Behind Only China and Brazil

Data from the report show that India holds approximately 6.9 million tons of rare earth oxide (REO) reserves, placing it behind China, which leads with 44 million tons, and Brazil, with 21 million tons. Other countries with substantial reserves include Australia (5.7 million tons), Russia (3.8 million tons), Vietnam (3.5 million tons) and the United States (1.9 million tons). Overall, India accounts for nearly 6–7 per cent of global rare earth reserves.

Production Remains Limited Despite Resource Advantage

However, India’s production performance tells a different story. In 2024, the country produced just 2,900 tonnes of rare earths, ranking seventh globally. In contrast, China produced about 270,000 tonnes, cementing its position as the undisputed global leader.

The United States followed with 45,000 tons, while Myanmar (31,000 tons), Australia, Thailand and Nigeria (around 13,000 tons each) also outpaced India. As a result, despite its large reserve base, India contributes less than one percent of global rare earth production.

Geological and Regulatory Constraints Complicate Mining

A key challenge lies in the nature of India’s deposits. Most reserves occur in monazite-rich coastal sands, which also contain thorium, a radioactive element. Consequently, mining and processing activities face heightened regulatory scrutiny and complex safety requirements. According to the report, regulatory hurdles have historically slowed rare earth development in India. For decades, production remained largely restricted and was primarily handled by Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), where rare earth elements were treated mainly as by-products rather than strategic materials.

Processing and Refining: The Critical Bottleneck

Beyond mining, the report identifies processing and refining capacity as India’s biggest weakness. While many countries possess rare earth reserves, refining capacity remains highly concentrated. China currently controls around 90 per cent of global rare earth refining capacity and dominates the processing of heavy rare earth elements, giving it a decisive advantage across the entire value chain.

India’s Limited Role in Global Rare Earth Trade

In comparison, India has minimal processing and refining infrastructure. The report noted that annual production has remained only a few thousand tonnes, leaving India with virtually no presence in global rare earth trade. Although a Japan-linked joint venture in Visakhapatnam has signalled India’s re-entry into the sector, the scale of operations remains modest and insufficient to shift global dynamics.

Global Context Reinforces China’s Dominance

Globally, rare earth reserves are estimated at 90–110 million tonnes of REO. China alone holds nearly half of these reserves, reinforcing its leadership in both supply and production. As reported by republicworld.com, the report concludes that India’s challenge is not resource scarcity, but gaps in execution, processing capacity, and value-chain integration. Unless these structural issues are addressed, India’s substantial reserves are unlikely to translate into strategic influence or market leadership in the global rare earth sector.

India has reached a transformative milestone in its energy sector by offering fifty new exploration and production (E&P) blocks across oil, gas, and coal bed methane (CBM) assets. The move signals a renewed push to unlock domestic hydrocarbon potential and strengthen the country’s energy security, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said. The initiative reflects India’s growing openness to both global and domestic investors, while reinforcing confidence in the country’s upstream energy ecosystem.

Open Acreage Licensing Policy Expands Exploration Opportunities

Under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), the government has offered 25 blocks covering approximately 1.83 lakh square kilometres. These include six onland blocks, six shallow-water blocks, one deepwater block, and 12 ultra-deepwater blocks. Through this diversified portfolio, the government aims to attract investment across varied geological terrains while accelerating exploration activity.

DSF Bid Round-IV Targets Faster Transition from Discovery to Production

At the same time, the Discovered Small Field (DSF) Bid Round-IV features 55 discoveries spread across nine contract areas. The round focuses on shortening the time between discovery and production, thereby enabling faster monetisation of hydrocarbon resources. To support investor participation, the government has introduced several incentives. These include zero royalty for the first seven years in deepwater areas, full marketing freedom on an arm’s-length basis, and relaxed eligibility criteria, with no mandatory prior experience in oil and gas operations.

Incentives Extended to Coal Bed Methane Rounds

Similarly, the government has extended flexible terms and incentives to the CBM rounds. These include complete pricing freedom, no overlap with coal blocks or mining areas, and, beginning with the 2026 round, government reimbursement of costs for mandatory core-hole drilling. As a result, CBM development is expected to gain momentum as an important contributor to India’s domestic gas production.

Unified Regulatory Framework Strengthens Investor Confidence

Highlighting regulatory reforms, the minister noted that India has introduced a unified regulatory framework through the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2025. As reported by tribuneindia.com, the landmark amendment delinks petroleum operations from mining, thereby simplifying compliance and approvals. In addition, the Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG) Rules, 2025 further streamline governance and provide regulatory clarity, creating a more stable and predictable environment for investors.

Linde India has announced the appointment of Milan Sadhukhan as Managing Director, effective January 1, 2026. The leadership transition comes at a critical time as the company accelerates its growth strategy across industrial gases and engineering solutions in India and the wider South Asia region.

Driving Strategic Growth and Operational Excellence

Milan will lead Linde India’s strategic expansion, operational performance, and financial management. At the same time, he will strengthen the company’s focus on sustainability, innovation, and value creation, supporting Linde’s long-term ambitions in the industrial gases sector.

Extensive Global Experience Within the Linde Group

Milan brings over 20 years of global experience within the Linde Group, having held senior leadership roles across India, Singapore, the UK, and Ireland. Most recently, he served as Head of Finance, South & East Asia (Finance and Supply Chain) and Head of Finance, ASEAN, along with Head of Shared Services, APAC, based in Singapore. During this tenure, he led large-scale regional finance and supply chain transformation initiatives. Moreover, he strengthened performance governance and improved operational efficiency across multiple markets within Linde’s Asia network.

Proven Leadership Across Multiple Markets

Earlier in his career, Milan held several key finance and controlling roles at Linde India, BOC UK & Ireland, and BOC India Ltd. These included positions such as Head of Finance & Control, South Asia; Chief Financial Officer; Cluster Finance Head – India & Sri Lanka; and Head of Controlling – UK & Ireland. Through these roles, he developed deep expertise in business controlling, commercial finance, and cross-market leadership across both gases and engineering businesses.

Positioned to Lead the Next Phase of Transformation

As reported by hrtoday.in, with his strong understanding of regional markets and global best practices, Milan Sadhukhan is well positioned to guide Linde India through its next phase of strategic growth and transformation. His appointment reinforces the company’s commitment to building a resilient, innovation-driven organisation that supports India’s evolving industrial and energy needs.

UPL, a global player in sustainable agriculture solutions, earned significant recognition at the 11th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Industrial IP Awards 2025. The company won the ‘Best Patent Portfolio’ award in the Life Science and Agriculture category and was also named among the Top 30 IP-Driven Organisations (Large Enterprises).

Recognising Excellence in Intellectual Property Leadership

The CII Industrial IP Awards celebrate organisations that demonstrate excellence in intellectual property creation, protection, and commercialisation. Moreover, the awards recognise how strong IP strategies contribute to business growth, competitiveness, and economic development.

The recognition highlights UPL’s continued focus on strengthening an innovation-led ecosystem. Through strategic investments in research and intellectual property, the company aims to create long-term value across the agricultural value chain.

Innovation-Driven Growth in Sustainable Agriculture

By building a robust patent portfolio, UPL continues to advance farmer-centric and sustainable agricultural innovations. Its approach integrates science, technology, and open collaboration to address evolving agricultural challenges while supporting global food security.

Leadership Perspective on IP Excellence

Dr. Vishal Sodha, Global Head–IP, Product Registration, and OpenAg R&D at UPL, said, “We are delighted to be recognised for our efforts in building an IP-driven organisation. This honour motivates us to further accelerate farmer-focused sustainable innovations. Our goal is to develop solutions that address real-world farming challenges while delivering benefits to communities and consumers”.

Strong and Expanding Global Patent Portfolio

UPL’s growing intellectual property footprint reflects the scale of its research capabilities. As per the press release, currently, the company holds more than 3,000 granted patents worldwide, while approximately 4,400 patent applications remain under review, underscoring the depth of its innovation pipeline.

In a nationally significant move aligned with India’s clean energy ambitions, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur and ONGC Green Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on December 20. The collaboration aims to drive research, capacity building, and policy-driven initiatives in the green and future energy sector.

Leadership and Signing Ceremony

The MoU was signed by Prof. Bhimaraya Metri, Director of IIM Nagpur, and Harsh Nupur Joshi, Chief Operating Officer of ONGC Green Limited. Senior faculty members from IIM Nagpur, including Prof. Alok Kumar Singh, Dean – Executive Education Programmes, and Prof. Nikunj Kumar Jain, Chairperson of the Executive MBA in Energy Management, were present. Representing ONGC Green, Deepak Kumar, GM (Electrical) attended the ceremony.

Focus on Transformative Energy Solutions

Speaking at the event, Harsh Nupur Joshi highlighted the rapid transformation of the energy sector. “Our goal is to collaborate to support India’s net-zero target by 2070. We will focus on projects in energy storage, biofuels, and emerging solutions like green hydrogen, which is poised to be a game changer for India,” he said.

Prof. Metri emphasized that India’s progress in green energy is closely monitored worldwide. “The world is watching India’s initiatives in sustainable energy. IIM Nagpur is proud to partner with ONGC Green in this national mission. Through this collaboration, we aim to provide research, leadership, and policy insights to shape India’s future energy ecosystem,” he added.

Joint Areas of Collaboration

Under the MoU, the two institutions will jointly work on critical areas, including:

*Environmental sustainability and ESG frameworks

*Integration of renewable energy into power systems

*Carbon and green credit markets

*Energy storage solutions and e-mobility policies

*Leadership development in the energy sector

The partnership combines IIM Nagpur’s academic and policy expertise with ONGC Green’s operational experience, ensuring practical and impactful outcomes.

Benefits for Citizens and the Economy

The collaboration will deliver tangible benefits to citizens, providing cleaner, more reliable power, affordable sustainable energy, green jobs, and improved living conditions. By strengthening India’s green energy ecosystem. The IIM Nagpur–ONGC Green partnership seeks to meet future energy demands while fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.

Supporting ONGC Green’s 10 GW Target

ONGC Green, the renewable energy arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), is leading efforts to achieve 10 GW of green energy capacity by 2030. The projects include solar, wind, energy storage, biofuels, and green hydrogen. The MoU with IIM Nagpur will provide strong academic and policy support to these initiatives, helping India achieve its net-zero emissions goal by 2070.

NTPC’s research arm, NETRA, is set to transform the energy landscape with the establishment of a plasma gasification-based green hydrogen facility in Greater Noida. NTPC announced that the plant will produce one tonne of green hydrogen per day, marking a major step toward sustainable energy solutions.

Innovative Technology Converts Waste to Clean Hydrogen

The facility will employ advanced plasma gasification technology to convert waste materials into syngas, a clean energy carrier free from tar. The syngas will then undergo a rigorous purification process using PSA or membrane technology, ensuring the production of high-purity hydrogen suitable for industrial and energy applications.

Strengthening NTPC’s Green Energy Portfolio

The initiative highlights NTPC’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the green energy sector. By integrating cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices, the company aims to diversify energy production and contribute to India’s decarbonisation targets.

NTPC’s Growing Power Capacity and Renewable Ambitions

Currently, NTPC supplies 25% of India’s electricity, with a total installed capacity exceeding 85 GW. The company plans to add 30.90 GW, including 13.3 GW from renewable sources, targeting 149 GW by 2032, with renewable energy contributing 60 GW. By 2037, NTPC envisions a total capacity of 244 GW, embracing emerging technologies such as green hydrogen, battery storage, and e-mobility solutions.

Pioneering a Sustainable Energy Future

As reported by devdiscourse.com, NTPC’s Greater Noida green hydrogen plant aims to demonstrate scalable and sustainable hydrogen production. It will reinforce energy security and maintain reliable, affordable electricity for India. The project also explores innovative low-carbon technologies.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have conducted a comprehensive study to accelerate sustainable green hydrogen production in India, offering timely guidance as the country pursues ambitious climate and energy goals.

Green Hydrogen Key to India’s Net-Zero Ambitions

India has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and generating 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. In this context, green hydrogen—produced using renewable energy—emerges as a critical decarbonisation lever, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors such as industry, transport, and buildings. Moreover, green hydrogen offers a low-emission, versatile energy carrier, strengthening energy security, reducing fossil fuel dependence, and supporting India’s long-term sustainable development objectives.

Collaborative Research with CSTEP

To address the challenges of scaling green hydrogen, Prof. Satyanarayanan Seshadri from the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, IIT Madras, partnered with the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). Together, they examined technology choices, environmental impacts, and material requirements associated with large-scale green hydrogen production in India.

Research Published in Energy and Fuels

The study’s findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Energy & Fuels by the American Chemical Society. The paper was co-authored by Peter Waiyaki, Ramprasad Thekkethil, Murali Ananthakumar, and Prof. Satyanarayanan Seshadri, underscoring a multidisciplinary approach to the research.

Roadmap Links Technology Choice with Sustainability

Prof. Seshadri, who also heads The Energy Consortium at IIT Madras, said the research provides a clear roadmap for expanding green hydrogen production in a sustainable manner. He emphasised that understanding the environmental and material implications of electrolyser technologies is essential for making informed decisions. He further noted that the study highlights the strong link between technology selection and environmental outcomes, a factor that will be critical for policymakers and industry stakeholders as India scales up its hydrogen ecosystem.

Focus on PEM Electrolyser Technology

In addition, Peter Waiyaki, Research Scholar at IIT Madras, explained that the study focuses on Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysers. Compared to conventional alkaline systems, PEM electrolysers offer higher efficiency and faster response times, making them well suited for large-scale hydrogen production aligned with India’s clean energy transition.

Insights Aligned with National Green Hydrogen Mission

Launched in January 2023, India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission targets 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen production annually by 2030. The mission also prioritises domestic manufacturing of electrolysers, which are essential for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. The IIT Madras study directly supports these goals by evaluating scalable production pathways and associated environmental impacts.

Key Findings: Balancing Efficiency and Environmental Impact

The research reveals that different PEM electrolyser configurations result in significantly different environmental footprints. For example, coating bipolar plates with electrocatalysts improves operational efficiency and system lifespan. Although this approach increases emissions during manufacturing, it produces substantially cleaner hydrogen over the system’s lifetime, highlighting the importance of life-cycle-based decision-making.

Proposed Classification for Green Hydrogen

Importantly, the study stresses the need to standardise green hydrogen classification. Even when produced using renewable energy, hydrogen can carry varying emission footprints depending on technology choices. To address this, the researchers propose a tiered classification system—“platinum,” “gold,” “silver,” and “bronze”—to clearly communicate hydrogen’s environmental quality. This framework would enhance transparency for policymakers, investors, and industry players.

Securing Critical Materials for Future Growth

Finally, the study offers guidance on securing critical raw materials required for PEM electrolysers. By identifying potential supply risks, the research helps ensure that India’s green hydrogen infrastructure can scale reliably and sustainably. As per the press release, overall, the findings lay a strong foundation for future research, including improved life-cycle datasets, deeper assessments of production pathways, and more robust analyses of material availability—key elements for building a resilient green hydrogen economy in India.

IFFCO inaugurated its fourth nano-fertiliser manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, marking a significant step in expanding its production footprint. The new unit strengthens the cooperative’s push to scale up next-generation fertiliser solutions.

Unit Adds Two Lakh Bottles per Day

The Bengaluru facility has the capacity to produce around two lakh 500 ml bottles per day. As a result, IFFCO has raised its total nano-fertiliser manufacturing capacity to 9.5 lakh bottles per day. Prior to this addition, IFFCO operated two nano-fertiliser units in Kalol, Gujarat, with a combined capacity of 3.5 lakh bottles per day. In addition, the company runs two units in Uttar Pradesh—Aonla and Phulpur—each producing two lakh bottles per day.

Strengthening Nationwide Production Network

As reported by newsonprojects.com, with the Bengaluru facility now operational, IFFCO continues to strengthen its nationwide manufacturing network, positioning itself to meet the growing demand for nano-fertilisers across India’s agricultural sector.