On March 23 in Rajayyapeta (Andhra Pradesh), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation for the Rs 1.36 trillion ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India steel plant here in Nakkapalli mandal of Anakapalli district.
With a capacity of 17.8 million tonnes per year, the plant will be built in two phases across 5,465 acres and is expected to create 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to the government.
"We have not just laid the foundation for a steel plant, but for a steel city," Naidu said, adding that the largest steel plant in India is coming to the southern state.
Observing that the foundation laid today will gain momentum from March 24, the CM assured that cold rolled steel production will begin by December 2028.
By June 2030, Naidu said, the first blast furnace will become operational. By December of that year, the second blast furnace will be completed, marking the end of the first phase of the project.
In the first phase, the steel plant will have a capacity of 7.3 million tonnes per year, and in the second phase, 10.5 million tonnes per year.
Furthermore, AM/NS India will build a 50-million-tonne capacity captive port on 316 acres, linked to the steel plant at an investment of Rs 11,198 crore, which will create another 6,000 jobs.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naidu said the Centre's cooperation and initiatives such as 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' have facilitated the arrival of AM/NS India.
Regarding the quicker construction of this project, the state government will always cooperate, he said, adding that a four-lane road extension has been planned to link the steel plant with National Highway 16.
According to Naidu, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) or Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) and AM/NS India steel plant will propel the southern state to the top position in the steel sector.
Thanking farmers who gave their land for the greenfield steel plant, Naidu urged young people to establish small industries in the steel sector to become industrialists.
Inviting investors to choose Andhra Pradesh for setting up their businesses, the CM called them to come up with new ideas, especially at a time when 25 new policies have been introduced and as the state has transitioned from 'ease of doing business' to 'speed of doing business'.
Highlighting that the state has attracted Rs 20.3 lakh crore in investments over 20 months, he promised to create 22 lakh jobs in the next three years.
Observing that the port city of Visakhapatnam has a bright future, Naidu assured that the NDA alliance government will make it a global city.
Besides the USD 15 billion Google data centre investment, he said Reliance Industries has also come forward to set up a data centre, adding that an aluminium city will follow, along with the development of a rare earth hub in North Andhra, among other initiatives.
Furthermore, Naidu said that the Bhogapuram Airport will be inaugurated in August.
Addressing Arcelor Mittal executive chairman Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, Naidu urged him to provide employment to people from Nakkapalli and Payakarraopeta in the steel plant, followed by people from Anakapalli district and beyond.
Meanwhile, Lakshmi Mittal said the foundation stone for the integrated steel plant in Rajayyapeta is the beginning of a major industrial project.
"ArcelorMittal celebrates its 20th anniversary later this year. For the last two decades, we had a vision to build a world-class greenfield steel plant here in India. This is my country. A country I love. A country I have always wanted to contribute to," he said.
According to Lakshmi Mittal, ArcelorMittal with its long-term partner Nippon Steel has established a major manufacturing presence in India.
As India continues its rapid development, he said, the demand for high-quality and domestically produced steel will only increase, which the Rajayyapeta plant is designed to meet.
It will produce advanced and value-added steel that strengthens India's industrial capabilities and enhances its position in the global steel landscape, he said.
Aditya Mittal, chairman, AM/NS India, said their company has been present in Andhra Pradesh for over 30 years through an 11-million-tonne pelletizer in Visakhapatnam and a renewable energy facility in Kurnool. "And a slurry pipeline, which connects our pelletizer to the richest iron-ore belt in the country. This existing infrastructure enables us to fast-track the project and we will connect the pipeline here to Anakapalli district," he said.
Calling the location of the upcoming steel plant ideal, he said it will become one of the lowest cost and competitive steel operations in the country. This will strengthen India's steel ecosystem, support the National Steel Policy's 300 million tonne ambition, and advance the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, he said.
Furthermore, Aditya Mittal said AM/NS India has signed two deals with the southern state to develop a future-ready industrial talent pipeline, which also includes setting up a metallurgical institute in Visakhapatnam.
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