CSIR-IMMT Centre of Excellence Completes Training Program for IOCL Officials on Battery Minerals Value Chain
By Tapaswini Sahoo
Bhubaneswar, Sep 28 : The CSIR–Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT), Bhubaneswar, through its newly established Centre of Excellence (CoE) under the National Critical Minerals Mission, successfully concluded a specialized training program on “Capacity Building in Battery Minerals Value Chain” for officials of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). The program, inaugurated on September 8, 2025, culminated on September 27, 2025, after three intensive weeks of knowledge exchange and technical training.
The valedictory session was presided over by Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, Director, CSIR-IMMT, and Mr. Manish Gupta, GM (E&P), P&BD, IOCL, who commended the participants for their active engagement. Both emphasized the critical role of such initiatives in enhancing India’s preparedness for energy transition, advancing self-reliance, and strengthening national capacity in critical minerals processing.
The program focused on building expertise in the processing of, battery minerals essential for energy storage technologies such as copper, nickel, cobalt, and lithium. Training modules combined classroom lectures, technical demonstrations, and interactive sessions, covering global market perspectives, mineral characterization, mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, battery precursor synthesis, and environmental and engineering considerations specific to battery minerals.The course was coordinated by Dr. Kali Sanjay, Chief Scientist and Head, Business Development, CSIR-IMMT, and convened by Dr. Chinmaya Kumar Sarangi, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-IMMT.
The sessions were led by a distinguished panel of scientists, industry specialists, academic faculty, and policymakers associated with the CSIR-IMMT Centre of Excellence. Expert contributions were made by CoE spokes including Dr. Sukanya Chakraborti, CTO, KABIL; Dr. Amritendu Roy, Associate Professor, IIT Bhubaneswar; Dr. Suraj Tripathy, Associate Dean, KIIT; Prof. Niharbali Devi, SOA University; and Dr. R. J. Krupadam, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur. Additional insights were shared by non-spoke experts such as Prof. P. K. Sen, Former Professor, IIT Kharagpur. The program was further enriched by international industry specialists, including Mr. Anand Sheth and Dr. Vijay Mehta from Titan International, Australia, and Mr. Akshay Sarvaiya, Director, Has Holdings Pty. Ltd., Australia, who brought valuable perspectives on industrial practices and global market trends.
By bringing together experts from academia, industry, and policy, the program created a unique platform for cross-sectoral knowledge exchange. The diverse sessions helped participants gain exposure to the technical, environmental, and economic dimensions of battery minerals, fostering a broader understanding of the value chain and its strategic significance for emerging clean energy technologies. The training highlighted the importance of building indigenous expertise and cultivating informed professionals who can contribute meaningfully to India’s evolving critical minerals ecosystem
