Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Epsilon gets government nod for lithium-ion battery anode project
Some batteries are made with a special ingredient called graphite, which goes into a part called the anode.
A company named Epsilon makes this ingredient for batteries.
The Indian government gave Epsilon permission to build a big factory for this work.
Epsilon is the only company that got this approval right now.
This is important because India wants to make battery parts at home instead of buying them from other countries.
Epsilon already opened a small testing plant in a place called Vijayanagar in Karnataka, India.
Soon, it wants to make much more — enough for 30,000 tonnes a year by 2028, and even more after that.
It also wants to build a second kind of factory for another battery part called the cathode.
Epsilon will send most of what it makes to customers in the United States.
It gets one of the raw ingredients, called lithium, from China, Australia, and South America.
Epsilon received government approval for its lithium-ion battery anode manufacturing project, becoming the only company approved in this tranche of ECMS applications.
Epsilon has commissioned India's first graphite anode customer qualification plant, EAM-ONE, in Vijayanagar, Karnataka.
The company plans to scale graphite anode capacity to 30,000 tonnes per annum by 2028 and 100,000 tonnes in a second phase.
Epsilon intends to export most of its anode production to US-based customers.
The company plans a 30,000-tonne cathode plant in Karnataka slated to break ground before the end of the year and commission by early 2028.
- Who
- Epsilon Group, led by Managing Director Vikram Handa.
- What
- The Indian government approved Epsilon's project to manufacture graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries, and the company is also planning cathode manufacturing.
- When
- Approval came in the latest tranche of ECMS applications; the planned Karnataka cathode plant is expected to break ground before the end of the year and commission by early 2028.
- Where
- Vijayanagar, Karnataka, India, with additional R&D and cathode pilot operations in Germany and most anode output planned for export to US-based customers.
- Why
- To build indigenous technology and a domestic supply chain for critical battery materials, supporting India's electric mobility and battery energy storage needs.
- Company
- Epsilon Group
- Approval
- Only company approved in this tranche of ECMS approvals for battery anode material manufacturing
- Current Plant
- EAM-ONE, India's first graphite anode customer qualification plant, at Vijayanagar, Karnataka
- Anode Capacity Target
- 30,000 tonnes per annum by 2028; 100,000 tonnes in second phase
- Planned Cathode Plant
- 30,000-tonne plant in Karnataka, breaking ground before end of the year and commissioning by early 2028
- Lithium Sources
- China, Australia and South America
- Export Plans
- Most anode production to be exported to US-based customers
- European Operations
- R&D centre and cathode pilot line in Germany