In a significant boost for Andhra Pradesh’s industrial landscape, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has officially recommended environmental clearance for ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel’s (AM/NS) ambitious 8.20 MTPA steel plant in the Anakapalli district. This groundbreaking project, representing an overall investment of ₹1.50 lakh crore, is set to become India’s largest greenfield steel facility to date.
The AM/NS steel plant will be developed in multiple stages, with its initial phase establishing an 8.20 MTPA manufacturing capacity. Plans are already in place to expand this to an impressive 24 MTPA in its final operational phase. Critically, the plant will integrate cutting-edge, energy-efficient, and low-emission technologies, ensuring alignment with stringent global sustainability and carbon management benchmarks.
Once fully operational, the AM/NS plant is poised to become a cornerstone industry within Andhra Pradesh’s industrial corridor. It will catalyze the development of steel-based downstream industries, machinery production clusters, and robust logistics networks throughout the northern coastal regions. This strategic development will significantly bolster the Visakhapatnam – Anakapalli – Kakinada industrial belt, further solidifying India’s standing as a prominent player in the sustainable steel production sector.
The journey for AM/NS, a joint venture between global steel giants ArcelorMittal and Japan’s Nippon Steel, began its collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) in August 2024. The company sought land and comprehensive policy support to establish a world-class steel manufacturing hub in the state. Demonstrating remarkable efficiency, the government allocated the necessary land within just three months and provided streamlined single-window facilitation to expedite the acquisition of statutory and environmental clearances. Consequently, all major project approvals were secured in an impressive 14-month timeframe.
Nara Lokesh, the IT & HRD Minister, highlighted that the project serves as a testament to Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to swift business operations, transparency, and efficient governance. He affirmed that under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, Andhra Pradesh has cultivated an industrial facilitation system that rivals global standards. Lokesh emphasized that the AM/NS plant is expected to profoundly transform the economic landscape of coastal Andhra Pradesh, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and substantially boosting local manufacturing, exports, and skill development initiatives.
Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal and Managing Director of AM/NS, expressed his profound appreciation for the GoAP’s rapid response in land allocation, handover, and invaluable support in securing the essential resource linkages and permits required for the steel plant’s establishment.
The foundation stone for the AM/NS plant is scheduled to be laid during the upcoming CII Partnership Summit, slated for November 14–15, 2025, in Visakhapatnam. This significant event will be attended by leading global CEOs, influential policymakers, and key industry leaders.