KTR lays stone for Amara Raja’s Giga Corridor in Mahbubnagar, says lithium ion ain’t pollutant

HYDERABAD: Dispelling the misgivings about the pollution due to lithium ion battery manufacturing units, Industries and Commerce Minister K.T. Rama Rao said that the country will have a great demand for lithium ion batteries owing to the large-scale use of electric vehicles in the decades to come.

KTR laid the foundation stone for the Rs.9,500-crore Amara Raja’s Giga Corridor for Lithium Cell and Battery Pack Manufacturing in Divitipali, Mahbubnagar district on Saturday.

The unit is part of Amara Raja Batteries Limited (ARBL).

Addressing the gathering KTR said that the facility would solely produce Lithium ion batteries. He said that the manufacturing process would involve zero liquid discharge and would not involve the production of lead oxide batteries. The Minister pointed out that the increasing use of electric vehicles in the forthcoming decades would require a large number of Lithium ion batteries.

He thanked Amara Raja Group's leadership for setting up one of India's largest Lithium ion battery making units in Divitipali.

The whopping investment would be spread in phases over 10 years. He said that the unit would create about 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. The establishment of this facility marked a significant milestone in Telangana's efforts to become a hub for electric vehicles and sustainable mobility. The minister also conveyed his assurance that this unit would transform the region by attracting additional industries to establish their units.

KTR said that a lot of efforts went into attracting an industry to the State and that the competition would emerge not only with other cities or States but it would be with other countries too. He said that after Aamara Raja announced the decision to set up the unit, the group’s leadership received calls from political leaders and officials from eight different States inviting them to their States to set up the unit.

KTR said that the Telangana government sent delegations to USA, UK and Davos in Switzerland, where they established pavilions to apprise representatives of companies about the investment opportunities, availability of various resources, like water and human resources, in the State.

The minister explained the rationale behind these efforts, stating that India had a significant young population of over 70 crores. He underscored the strength of India was its young demographic, and said the Industries Minister also observed that government entities must collaborate with private firms and support them in generating employment opportunities.

Tourism Minister V. Srinivas Goud and Jayadev Galla, Chairman & Managing Director, of Amara Raja also were present.