Telangana, Queensland join hands for mining, sale of 11 key energy minerals: Deputy CM Bhatti

Hyderabad: The agreement for cooperation and partnership with the Queensland (Australian) government in the mineral technology and mining sector will become a milestone in the Telangana State’s history, said deputy chief minister and minister for energy Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu.

The deputy chief minister spoke at a meeting with the Queensland State Finance, Commerce, Employment and Training minister Rose Bates and with the minister’s team of officers on ‘Production of Key Minerals, Expansion of Trade Opportunities’. The meeting was held at Singareni Bhavan here on Monday.

Importing minerals from Queensland is crucial for building solar-powered systems

Bhatti Vikramarka said there is a huge demand in Telangana and the entire country for electric vehicles and solar power, battery storage systems. Therefore, there is a great requirement for 11 kinds of minerals including Vanadium, Cobalt, Indium, Chromium and Titanium.

“So far, such minerals were being imported from foreign countries. As these minerals are abundantly available in Queensland, the Telangana government has come to a preliminary agreement for a mutually profitable business agreement for the production and sale of these minerals,” he said.

Telangana State has set a target to generate 20,000 MW of Green Energy by 2029-30 and is formulating plans to achieve this target and become a model for the country. In this regard, the Telangana State government may take the cooperation of Queensland, he said.

SCCL as the nodal agency for foreign mineral trade

Vikramarka said that The Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) is the nodal agency for joint mining and mineral trade between Telangana State and Queensland.

The SCCL has already entered into an agreement with Simtars on security-related aspects and with CSI, RO and other agencies on mining and technology-related matters and availing their services.

“Now, with this agreement in the presence of Queensland minister on the excavation of important minerals, technology for major mineral production machinery, stepping up of safety aspects, improving ventilation, modern technology for mining of coal reserves at greater depth and other matters, SCCL is going ahead with the business agreement with mutual understanding,” the deputy CM said.

A team from Singareni will soon be sent to Queensland for the study and understanding of the above subjects, he added.

Queensland extends cooperation

Rose Bates speaking on the occasion said that they have come here to further strengthen their relations with Singareni Company which has rich experience in the mining sector. They have come to a basic understanding of joint partnership for the production of important minerals like Cobalt, Titanium, Graphite, Chromium, Tungsten Antimony, Renium, Indium and also Rare Earth minerals.

She promised to extend full cooperation for solar power and wind power sectors.

She also said that they would appoint nodal officers to promote their mining and mineral resources businesses. She extended an invitation to the State government for a big trade convention to be held in Queensland in March.