27 April, 2026 20:33:59 IST 
Kolkata-based Himadri Speciality Chemical, has announced the commencement of operations at its first anode material production facility at Mahistikry, Hooghly, West Bengal, with an initial installed capacity 200-mtpa.
The company, which is a leading producer of coal tar derivatives and speciality carbon black, is making a pivot into lithium-ion battery materials and advanced chemicals to emerge as a ‘non-Chinese supplier’ to global electric vehicle and energy storage supply chains.
In December 2023, it had unveiled plans for production of Lithium-ion battery (LiB) components, in phases with total annual production capacity of 200,000-MT.
Himadri aims to produce anode (graphite) materials with “low carbon footprint”. Himadri is backwardly integrated to the precursor coke for anode materials through its in-house precursor “Meso-coke” technology. Himadri’s anode materials aim to address main LiB applications in EVs and ESS.
“This anode facility represents the culmination of over a decade of rigorous in-house R&D on anode chemistry, through which Himadri has indigenously developed the complete technology stack - from raw material processing to finished anode material. A key differentiator of this platform is the use of a specially engineered, high-purity coal tar pitch, entirely produced in-house by Himadri, ensuring superior quality control, consistency, and performance. This backward integration, combined with proprietary process know-how, enables a fully integrated and self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem across the anode material value chain,” said Mr. Anurag Choudhary, CMD & CEO, Himadri Speciality Chemical.
The company is reportedly planning to export the anode material, an essential material for producing lithium-ion batteries, to overseas markets, especially to the US and Europe, from the third quarter this fiscal.
Meanwhile, execution of the first phase of the company’s Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cathode active material project is progressing as planned, with the first milestone capacity of 2,000-mtpa targeted for commencement by Q3FY27. The balance phase I capacity will be progressively brought onstream over the subsequent 12 months in alignment with customer approvals, with FY29 envisaged as the year of full operations for phase I, informed Mr. Choudhary.
