Now Reading: Naidu pushes value addition for Andhra beach sand minerals
-
01
Naidu pushes value addition for Andhra beach sand minerals
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called for manufacturing value-added products from beach sand minerals to reduce India's dependence on other countries for rare earth minerals. He made the remarks…
The Story in Brief
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called for manufacturing value-added products from beach sand minerals to reduce India's dependence on other countries for rare earth minerals. He made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation led by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd Managing Director Karan Adani at the Secretariat in Amaravati on Wednesday.
The delegation briefed Naidu on a proposed titanium plant by the Adani Group in Srikakulam district with an investment of Rs 16,000 crore. The representatives explained that ilmenite in beach sand can be processed into titanium slag, titanium dioxide and titanium sponge. Naidu stressed adopting advanced technologies and developing an integrated value chain to maximise benefits for the state and the country.
The Indian Opinion
Naidu's push for rare earth self-reliance is welcome, but words need action. Andhra has a history of big investment announcements that stall. The Adani Group's Rs 16,000 crore titanium plant and its proposed Visakhapatnam projects, including a data centre and a medical college, will be a real test of whether the state can move from mining raw minerals to manufacturing finished products. Can Naidu ensure the value chain stays within Andhra, not just the extraction?
Sources (2): deccanchronicle.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
