Lokesh urges Giredmet Institute to set up rare earth processing facility in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh at the Atomic Energy Museum in Moscow on Sunday. | Photo credit: ANI

Andhra Pradesh IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh met representatives of Giredmet Institute, Russia’s leading rare earth mining organization, in Moscow on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Lokesh said that partnership with Giredmet Institute would open up valuable opportunities for Andhra Pradesh and asked him to explore the possibility of setting up a center for deep processing and refining of rare earth elements in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts.

He also sought a partnership with the AP government to set up a neodymium magnet manufacturing center in Nellore district and to implement patented extraction technologies to recover strategic precious metals from industrial waste and mining tailings.

Founded in 1931 and headquartered in Moscow, Giredmet is a key research and development facility within Rosatom’s science and technology system. He has expertise in rare earth elements, critical metals, semiconductor materials and high purity chemicals.

Mr. Lokeš previously visited Russia’s largest atomic energy museum in Moscow, which is unique in its exhibits that range from the early stages of Soviet nuclear power plants to modern nuclear power and futuristic projects.

The top managers of the museum told the minister that more than 3.50 million visitors from more than 80 countries have visited this museum.

This museum, jointly developed by the Moscow government and the state corporation Rosatom, comprehensively presents not only the history of nuclear energy, but also the achievements in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Published – 07 Jun 2026 20:38 IST