Lok Sabha Question No. 623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Rare Earth and Critical Minerals in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri P V Midhun Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.623

ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025

## RARE EARTH AND CRITICAL MINERALS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

623. SHRI P V MIDHUN REDDY:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has identified rare earth and critical mineral deposits in coastal and tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the details of exploration undertaken;
- (c) whether Private or PSUs have been granted mining rights, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government is planning to establish a processing facility in the State, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) & (b): Yes. Since 2022-23, the Geological Survey of India, an attached office of the Ministry  of  Mines,  has  taken  up  38  mineral  exploration  projects  for  critical  mineral commodities  such  as  molybdenum,  graphite,  cobalt,  lithium,  Phosphorite  etc.  in different  districts  of  Andhra  Pradesh  including  Vizianagaram,  Nellore,  Srikakulam, West  Godavari  etc.  and  has  augmented  resources  for  critical  minerals  such  as graphite,  tungsten,  cobalt  and  cadmium  in  East  Godavari,  Alluri  Sitharama  Raju, Anantapur,  Vizianagaram  and  YSR  (Kadapa)  districts.  The  details  are  given  at Annexure.

Further,  the  National  Mineral  Exploration  and  Development  Trust  (NMEDT)  has approved  17  mineral  exploration  projects  in  Andhra  Pradesh  which  includes  03 projects of critical minerals located in YSR (Kadapa), Prakasam, and Alluri Sitharama Raju districts.

- (c):   The  Ministry  of  Mines  has  granted  previous  approval  of  Central  Government under Section 5(1) of the MMDR Act, 1957 for grant of mining lease for Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) in Andhra Pradesh for following blocks.

|   Sl No | Area                                                        | Name of PSU/Corporation                                | Date of approval   |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
|       1 | 670.77 Ha and 239.08 Ha. Gara Mandal of Srikakulam District | Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) | 19.05.2023         |

| 2   | 90.15 Ha. Bhimunipatnam Deposit, Visakhapatnam District   | APMDC   | 14.06.2022   |
|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------|---------|--------------|

Further,  Letter  of  Intent  (LoI)  has  been  issued  for  grant  of  composite  licence  to Hindustan  Zinc  Limited  on  15.05.2025  for  Balepalyam  Tungsten  Block,  Anantapur District.

(d):  The  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  has  taken  up  with investors  to  establish critical mineral processing facilities at Visakhapatnam and Machilipatnam.

*****

Annexure

Critical mineral resource augmented by GSI for Andhra Pradesh since 2022-23

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|   Sl. No. | District              | Field Season   | Commodity    | Block        | UNFC Stage   |   Resource (in Million Tonne) | Grade                                       |
|-----------|-----------------------|----------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Anantapur             | 2022-23        | Tungsten ore | Balepalyam   | G3           |                        0.0794 | 0.09% avg. grade of WO3 at 0.03% cut- off   |
|         2 | Vizianagaram          | 2022-23        | Cobalt ore   | Gadabavalasa | G3           |                        0.066  | 390.33 ppm avg. grade at 200 ppm Co cut-off |
|         3 | Vizianagaram          | 2022-23        | Cobalt ore   | Gumpamkonda  | G2           |                        0.63   | Avg. Co grade 360 ppm at 200ppm Co cut-off  |
|         4 | YSR (Kadapa)          | 2022-23        | Cadmium ore  | Jaukulapalle | G2           |                        0.7    | 151.67 ppm Cd avg. grade at 100 ppm cut-off |
|         5 | Alluri Sitharama Raju | 2023-24        | Graphite ore | Utla         | G3           |                        0.625  | Avg. grade of 9% FC at 2% cut-off           |