TG wants the tripartite partnership to focus on critical minerals exploration and research

Deputy Chief Minister M. Bhatti Vikramarka is holding a meeting on critical mineral exploration in Hyderabad on Tuesday. | Photo credit: By arrangement

HYDERABAD

Telangana has taken a major step to promote long-term research and institutional collaboration in exploration of critical minerals and advanced mineral technologies with a joint partnership between Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, IIT Hyderabad and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).

Deputy Chief Minister M. Bhatti Vikramarka met Monash University Dean (Engineering) and senior officials of SCCL and IIT Hyderabad here on Tuesday with a focus on accelerating research in the critical minerals sector through joint partnership. He said the importance of critical minerals is growing rapidly as the country expands its renewable energy sector.

Telangana, he said, will not only remain a consumer of critical minerals but will also emerge as a key partner in the entire value chain. He suggested that academic partnerships should not be limited to research, but should also focus on developing technologies that could be scaled up for commercial applications.

Asking officials to prepare an action plan for the proposed collaboration at the earliest, Mr. Vikramarka made it clear that the state government would extend all its support and cooperation to transform Telangana into a hub for research and innovation in critical minerals. He also emphasized the need to strengthen the center of excellence at IIT Hyderabad and develop it into a platform for advanced research and technological development.

By merging Monash University, IIT Hyderabad and Singareni, the partnership the state government planned to focus on mineral exploration, mineral mining, processing and refining technologies as well as methods of recovering critical minerals from waste, the Deputy Chief Minister said. The collaboration would help solve the shortage of raw materials needed for key industries such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, battery storage systems and electronics.

The meeting was attended by Special Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister and Chairman and Managing Director of TG-Transco D. Krishna Bhaskar, Dean of Monash University Prof. Yannis Ventikos, founders of the Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Center Prof. Mohan Yellishetty and Prof. Raman Singh along with senior Singareni officials.

Accident insurance check

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister handed over a check for ₹1 million for accident insurance cover/claim to Boda Swathi, wife of B. Shankar Reddy, employee II. degree who died accidentally on duty at Huzurabad 132/11 KV Substation on October 1 last year.

Published – 01 Sep 2026 23:18 IST