Lokesh invites Russian institute to set up rare earth hub in Andhra Pradesh

Vijayawada: IT minister Nara Lokesh invited Russia’s leading rare earth minerals research organisation, Giredmet Institute, to explore opportunities for establishing a rare earth element (REE) refining and deep-processing hub in north Andhra Pradesh and a neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnet manufacturing facility in Nellore.

During his sixth day of the Russia tour, Lokesh on Sunday held discussions with representatives of the Moscow-based Giredmet Institute, a premier research and design organisation operating under Russia’s nuclear energy giant Rosatom. The meeting focused on potential collaboration in rare earth processing, advanced materials, semiconductor-grade chemicals and strategic minerals.

Addressing the delegation, Lokesh said technological partnerships with global institutions such as Giredmet could unlock significant opportunities for India and particularly Andhra Pradesh. He highlighted the state’s vast mineral reserves in the Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam regions and urged the institute to examine the feasibility of setting up a deep-processing and REE refining hub in north Andhra Pradesh.

The minister also proposed a partnership to establish a full-cycle rare-earth permanent-magnet manufacturing facility in Nellore using Giredmet’s advanced processing technologies. The proposed plant would manufacture high-performance NdFeB magnets, which are critical components in electric vehicles, wind energy systems and advanced electronics. Such a facility could cater to India’s rapidly expanding EV and renewable energy markets while reducing dependence on imports.

Lokesh further invited the Russian institute to collaborate in establishing a metallurgy and ultra-pure semiconductor and electronic materials laboratory in Andhra Pradesh’s emerging technology corridor. He said the state was ready to support such initiatives with plug-and-play laboratory infrastructure and industry-friendly policies. The minister also sought cooperation in deploying advanced extraction technologies to recover strategic rare metals from industrial waste and mining tailings, an area gaining global importance as countries seek sustainable sources of critical minerals.

Founded in 1931, Giredmet Institute is one of Russia’s foremost research organisations specialising in rare earth elements, critical metals, semiconductor materials and high-purity chemicals. Based in Moscow, the institute serves as a key scientific and technological centre within Rosatom’s ecosystem and plays a crucial role in strengthening Russia’s technological self-reliance.

Earlier, Lokesh visited Moscow’s Atomic Energy Museum, one of the world’s largest nuclear science museums. Spread across seven floors and 25,000 square metres, the museum showcases the evolution of nuclear science from the Soviet era to modern-day innovations and future technologies. Officials informed the minister that more than 3.5 million visitors from over 80 countries have visited the museum since its inauguration in Nov 2023. The facility, jointly developed by the Moscow govt and Rosatom, can accommodate up to 2,100 visitors at a time and serves as a major centre for science education and public engagement.