In a significant boost to India’s industrial growth Andhra Pradesh’s chief minister Mr N Chandrababu Naidu today laid the foundation stone for what is being touted as India’s largest greenfield steel project to be built by ArcelorMittal/Nippon Steel (AM/NS) India.
At an estimated investment of Rs 1.35 Lakh Crores AM/NS Mega Investment to Create 1 Lakh Jobs, cement’s AP as India’s Top Investment Destination.
With steel production capacity of 17.8 MTPA, AM/NS will become India’s first company to hold a Green Steel certification being built at Rajayyapetta, Anakapalli district.
Speaking on the occasion AP’s minister of IT and HRD Mr Nara Lokesh highlighted that this mega project is a statement of trust and belief in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
He reminisced how a 30-minute zoom call with the CEO of ArcelorMittal Mr Aditya Mittal got this project going and approvals were given in record time.
Stating that this project will put Anakapalli on the world map he noted that the plant will be armed with the latest technologies and will be powered by green energy while being sustainable.
Chief Minister Mr Naidu lauded both Mr Lokesh and Mr Mittal for their untiring efforts in making this project a reality.
“Lokesh and Aditya have made this project a reality and I wholeheartedly appreciate both their efforts. This is not just a steel plant but a steel city”, said the CM.
About the Plant
The project will be developed in two phases, with Phase 1 alone attracting an investment of Rs 70,000 crore , underscoring the scale and confidence global investors have in Andhra Pradesh’s growth trajectory.
Once completed, the plant will have a production capacity of 17.8 million metric tonnes per annum, positioning it among the largest steel manufacturing hubs in the country.
It is also pertinent to note that with this investment, AM/NS becomes the first integrated steel company to hold a Green Steel certification from the Ministry of Steel.
Spread across over 5,400 acres, the integrated steel plant will be complemented by a captive port, further strengthening Andhra Pradesh’s logistics and export ecosystem.
Road Connectivity
The state government has already initiated critical infrastructure upgrades, including four-lane connectivity to NH-16, along with dedicated water and power supply systems to support the project.
Captive Port
The project will also have a captive port with a projected capacity of 50 MTPA, backed by an additional investment of over Rs 11,000 crore, is expected to generate another 6,000 jobs, reinforcing the region’s industrial ecosystem.
This mega investment is being seen as a direct outcome of the pro-industry, fast-track governance model adopted by the state government over the past 21 months.
Speaking on the occasion steel baron and Executive chairman of ArcelorMittal, Mr Lakshmi Mittal said that this project was of a deep personal significance to him.
He said that this plant will cater to India’s rapidly growing demand for high quality steel and will produce Value added steel.
Mr Mittal lauded CM Naidu for his vision and for making this moment possible in record time.
Similarly, Arcelormittal CEO, Mr Aditya Mittal said that AP is a shining example of speed of doing business and added that this plant will be state of the art and adopt the latest technologies while having strong focus on safety.
At the ground breaking ceremony 2 MoUs were also signed between AMNS and GoAP i.e. MoU on skill development and centre of excellence.
The foundation ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries including Union Steel and Heavy Industries Minister Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy, Minister of State Mr Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Deputy Chief Minister Mr Pawan Kalyan, Home Minister, Ms Anitha, BJP State President, Mr PVN Madhav and a slew of other ministers and senior officials.
