Epsilon Advanced Materials plans Rs 9,000-cr anode facility in Karnataka: MD
New Delhi: Battery materials manufacturer Epsilon Advanced Materials is planning to set up a Rs 9,000-crore anode plant in Karnataka with an annual production capacity of 90,000 tonne, a top official of the company said.
The investment in the plant would be made in two phases. In the first phase, Rs 4,000 crore would be invested and the remaining Rs 5,000 crore would be pumped in the second phase, Epsilon Group Managing Director Vikram Handa said.
"So, we are looking to build a 30,000-tonne anode plant in India by Q4 2026, which will entail an investment of about Rs 4,000 crore. The plant will be scaled up to 90,000 tonne (capacity) by 2031. The total capex outlay is Rs 9,000 crore for our annual business in the next eight years," Handa explained.
With increasing demand of electric vehicles in India, there is a need for Indian cell manufacturing companies to set up battery plants in the country. Epsilon products will act as a sustainable and reliable supplier of anode and cathode material to these cell companies.
This way, Epsilon is playing a key role in the raw material processing ecosystem within the country and even for global demand.
The company plans the groundbreaking ceremony for the plant in the next six to eight months, Handa said, adding that the construction of the plant will take a year and a half.
"The idea is to have supply in the market by 2026-end or 2027 beginning," he explained.
The company plans to partly fund the project in the first phase by customer advance, debt and project financing as well because it is a big amount, he said.
"There is a lot of stickiness of the customer with this product. Today, we need a customer, but once acquired they will remain with us for next seven to eight years because the cost to replace the battery material is too high," Handa added.
The parent entity, Epsilon Carbon, is into the production of speciality carbon and carbon black that goes into tyres. Today, the company has about 1,100 people on-roll and off-roll operating at its plant in Karnataka.
The company is also building a new project in Odisha and announced an investment of Rs 10,000 crore in phases. The first phase is under construction.
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Pizza Hut China debuts unusual bullfrog pizza, sparking mixed reactions online
Beijing : Pizza Hut China has taken a bold step into culinary experimentation by introducing a limited-edition pizza topped with deep-fried bullfrog, a move that has garnered both curiosity and criticism online. The unconventional dish was first highlighted by global food trend expert David Henke, who shared a photo of the new menu item on X (formerly Twitter), noting the diverse protein preferences in different cultures.
The pizza, known as "Goblin Pizza," features a thick crust, red sauce, a layer of parsley, and a whole deep-fried bullfrog as the centerpiece. The frog's "eyes" are created with halved hard-boiled eggs, each topped with a black olive, making for a visually striking presentation. According to Korean news outlet Maeil Business Newspaper, the unusual offering is a collaboration with Dungeons and Dragons, inspired by a character from the game.
Details about the availability of this new creation are limited, with no specific information provided on Pizza Hut’s official website. However, the quirky menu item has already become a talking point on social media, drawing a mix of reactions ranging from shock to curiosity.
On Reddit, a photo of the pizza was shared, fueling further debate. Some users labeled the dish as “pure blasphemy,” while one user went so far as to say, “This pizza is a felony.” Another asked, “Why ruin a pizza like that?”
Not all feedback was negative; one commenter admitted that while the frog might be off-putting, they'd be more accepting if the pizza underneath was satisfactory. Another joked, "You can ribbet this right into the garbage."
Amidst the critique, there were voices of intrigue. One foodie defended the dish, saying, “Fried frog legs are so good! Maybe next time, shred the frog leg meat and add it to the pizza—that would be pretty good.”
