From Our Correspondent
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh possesses nearly 30% of India’s beach sand minerals, positioning the state as a potential national hub for rare earth and titanium-based industries, according to officials and experts at a high-level workshop held in Vijayawada on Wednesday.
The workshop — “Beach Sand Minerals to Titanium, Rare Earths and RE Permanent Magnets: Building Domestic Value Chains in Andhra Pradesh — Possibilities and Expectations” — brought together senior representatives from the Union and State Mines departments, AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC), national scientists, and industry leaders.
Strategic importance of rare earth minerals
Rare earth minerals such as titanium, zircon, and ilmenite are critical inputs for multiple high-technology and strategic sectors. They are widely used in:
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Defence equipment and aerospace systems
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Advanced engineering and precision manufacturing
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Electric vehicle batteries and energy storage technologies
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Wind turbines and renewable energy infrastructure
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Electronics, semiconductors, and permanent magnets
Currently, India depends heavily on imports for a significant share of these minerals and value-added products, creating supply vulnerabilities. Developing domestic capabilities is therefore considered strategically important for economic security and technological independence.
AP’s 2030 target: 70–75% national supply
The Andhra Pradesh government aims to leverage its mineral advantage to supply 70–75% of India’s rare earth mineral requirements by 2030, officials said. The state expects investments of about ₹50,000 crore over the next five years, potentially generating 40,000–50,000 jobs.
A new policy framework for the sector is under preparation and is likely to be announced within the next one to two months, focusing on faster approvals, land allocation, infrastructure support, and investor incentives under a streamlined single-window system.
Building a full industrial value chain
Officials emphasised that the strategy goes beyond mining and raw mineral exports. The government plans to establish an integrated ecosystem covering:
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Mineral extraction
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Processing and refining
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Advanced materials manufacturing
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Rare earth permanent magnet production
The objective is to capture higher value within the state and create downstream manufacturing industries.
Former DRDO Chairman and State Government Advisor Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Chief Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena, Industries Secretary Yuvraj, APMDC MD Praveen Kumar, Mines Director Chandrasekhar, and National Critical Minerals Mission Director Anish Pandey outlined policy support measures and investment opportunities during panel discussions.
State Minister Kollu Ravindra, who attended as chief guest, said the government’s goal is to position Andhra Pradesh as a national leader in titanium and rare earth element production while encouraging young entrepreneurs to enter the sector through targeted incentives.
Officials said the initiative could transform Andhra Pradesh into a critical node in India’s emerging strategic minerals economy.