Hyderabad: Telangana is set to play a key role in India’s mining sector, with a significant step forward in its collaboration with Queensland, Australia.
The Telangana government has entered into an agreement with the Queensland government for mutual cooperation in the critical mineral technology and mining sector, which Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Energy Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu described as a milestone in the state’s mining history.
Speaking at a meeting with Queensland’s Finance, Commerce, Employment, and Training Minister Rose Bates and her delegation on “Production of Key Minerals and Expansion of Trade Opportunities” at Singareni Bhavan on Monday, Bhatti Vikramarka emphasised Telangana’s growing demand for electric vehicles, solar power, and battery storage systems.
He highlighted the need for 11 key minerals, including Vanadium, Cobalt, Indium, Chromium, and Titanium, which are currently being imported. Since Queensland has abundant reserves of these minerals, Telangana has entered into a preliminary agreement for a mutually beneficial partnership for their production and trade.
The Deputy CM noted that Telangana aims to generate 20,000 MW of green energy by 2029-30 and is formulating strategies to achieve this goal. Queensland’s cooperation in this sector will be explored further.
To facilitate joint mining and mineral trade, Singareni Collieries Company has been designated as the nodal agency. It has already partnered with Queensland’s Simtars on safety measures and with CSI, RO, and other agencies for mining and technology-related collaborations.
With this latest agreement, signed in the presence of Minister Rose Bates, Singareni will work on excavation of key minerals, advanced mining technologies, improved ventilation systems, and enhanced safety measures for deep coal mining.
A Singareni team will soon visit Queensland for further studies on these aspects.
Minister Rose Bates reaffirmed Queensland’s commitment to strengthening ties with Telangana in the mining sector. She stated that a basic understanding had been reached for joint production of essential minerals such as Cobalt, Titanium, Graphite, Chromium, Tungsten, Antimony, Rhenium, Indium, and other rare earth minerals. She also assured support for Telangana’s solar and wind power initiatives and announced the appointment of nodal officers to facilitate trade and investment in mining and minerals.
Additionally, she invited the Telangana government to participate in a major trade convention in Queensland this March.
Singareni Collieries Chairman and Managing Director N. Balram, in his welcome address, gave a PowerPoint presentation on Singareni’s business expansion plans and emerging opportunities.
The meeting was attended by Queensland Government Chief of Staff Michael Negerawich, Commercial Investments CEO, South Asia Investments Senior Commissioner Abhinav Bhatia, South Asia Senior Director Munish Kaushal, Singareni Director (E&M) D. Satyanarayana Rao, Director of Operations, and other senior officials, according to an official statement.
