Recyclekaro, TMK join hands for e-waste & battery recycling in Uzbekistan

Indian e-waste and lithium-ion battery recycling major Recyclekaro has partnered with Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex (TMK) to develop recycling and critical mineral recovery capabilities in Uzbekistan.

The collaboration comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent State Visit to Tashkent, during which India and Uzbekistan elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Critical minerals, trade, investment and energy transition were identified as key areas for deeper cooperation, including mineral processing and recycling.

Under the partnership, Recyclekaro and TMK will establish a joint venture facility in Uzbekistan for recycling e-waste and end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and recovering critical minerals. Recyclekaro will provide technology, project development and operational expertise.

Feasibility studies for the proposed facility are already underway to assess its scale and commercial viability. The companies are expected to announce the facility’s capacity after completion of the studies.

The project will initially focus on developing a critical metal recovery hub for Uzbekistan. In its second phase, the facility is planned to expand into processing e-waste and end-of-life batteries sourced from across Central Asia, creating an end-to-end recovery ecosystem covering collection through critical mineral recovery.

Rajesh Gupta, Managing Director, Recyclekaro, said, “As nations worldwide work towards building resilient and sustainable supply chains, advanced recycling and urban mining will play a critical role in securing strategic materials. Our collaboration with TMK represents a significant step in taking India’s recycling expertise to the global stage and demonstrates how technology, innovation, and international partnerships can accelerate the shift towards a circular economy.”

The proposed facility is also expected to contribute to the development of a regional recycling ecosystem in Central Asia by recovering valuable materials through urban mining and promoting sustainable resource management.

The initiative aligns with the broader India-Uzbekistan agenda to strengthen industrial cooperation in critical minerals, including geological exploration, mining, mineral processing, value-added production and recycling. Both countries have also agreed to pursue joint projects to develop integrated critical mineral value chains.

Recyclekaro – the Mumbai based recycling giant – had announced recently to have secured eligibility under the government’s Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling. It also plans to invest around Rs 300 crore to expand its recycling operations, increasing its total processing capacity to approximately 50,000 metric tonnes.