Overview
- APMDC says Andhra holds nearly 25% of India’s beach sand mineral resources, with significant ilmenite, rutile, zircon and monazite deposits.
- The ten approved blocks span Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Krishna, with additional areas progressing through clearances.
- The programme outlines an integrated pathway from extraction and mineral separation to refining and advanced manufacturing of titanium and rare‑earth products.
- Six operational ports and established industrial corridors are slated to host processing units near raw material sources to reduce logistics costs.
- The push answers China’s dominance in titanium minerals and rare‑earth processing and rising Indian demand, with magnet needs projected to double by 2030 as TiO2 pigment imports exceed 75%.