Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh government is foraying into rare earths and titanium-based minerals to unlock the economic potential of its sand reserves, with the aim of reducing India’s dependence on global supply chains dominated by China.
The southern state intends to establish a new manufacturing hub along its coast.
Andhra Pradesh is preparing for a strategic push into rare earths and titanium-based minerals by unlocking the economic potential of its vast beach sand reserves, a move aimed at reducing India’s dependence on global supply chains dominated by China, a press release said on Saturday.
According to the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation, the state hosts the second largest beach sand mineral reserves in India, accounting for nearly 25% of these national resources.
These resources are particularly high in concentrations of ilmenite, rutile, zircon and monazite, a major source of rare earth elements, the press release stated.
Beach sand minerals are an important input across a range of high-value industries – from paints and aviation components to nuclear fuel and permanent magnets used in electric cars and wind turbines.
Ilmenite and rutile are processed into titanium dioxide pigment and titanium metal, while monazite produces rare earth oxides essential for electronics and clean energy technologies.
The press release stated that India currently imports more than 75 percent of its titanium dioxide pigment needs, nearly two-thirds of which comes from China, despite having some of the largest reserves of titanium metal in the world.
By the way, rare earth magnets are a fast-growing opportunity because they are essential for motors, renewable energy systems, defense equipment, and consumer electronics.
Demand for rare earth magnets is expected to grow more than 15 percent annually in India and double by 2030, the press release said.
Currently, India remains highly dependent on imports of rare earth materials and finished magnet products, exposing manufacturers to geopolitical and supply chain shocks.
To capitalize on this opportunity, MDC has already secured necessary approvals for setting up 10 major beach sand deposits across coastal districts like Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Krishna.
These deposits cover thousands of hectares of land and contain tens of millions of tons of heavy metal reserves, the press release said, adding that many additional areas are under development or in advanced stages of clearance.
These deposits are viewed not only as mining assets, but as the basis of an entire value chain from mineral separation and refining to advanced manufacturing of titanium products and rare earth components, the press release said.
With six operational ports holding over 330 million tonnes of cargo capacity, expanding industrial corridors such as the Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor, and robust logistics and energy infrastructure close to the mineral-rich coastal belts, Andhra Pradesh aims to build a value-added coastal corridor.
This proximity allows heavy metal processing plants, pigment facilities, titanium metal units and rare earth refining groups to be located close to raw material sources, sharply reducing logistics costs, the press release said.
Moreover, Andhra Pradesh’s beach sand strategy aligns closely with India’s broader efforts to achieve critical mineral security and indigenous manufacturing under its clean energy and defense programmes.
The state, if implemented on a large scale, could become India’s premier hub for dyeing of titanium dioxide, titanium metal, rare earth oxides, permanent magnets, advanced materials for aerospace, electric vehicles and renewable energy sources, the press release said.
Besides import substitution, the sector could generate significant export revenues as global manufacturers look for non-Chinese supply chains for critical minerals, she added.
In fact, Andhra Pradesh is positioning its coast not just as a mining belt but as a strategic materials corridor that will drive the next wave of industrial growth in India, the press release added.
This article was generated from an automated news feed without any modifications to the text.
