Berry Alloys ₹1,200 Crore Investment to Boost Jobs, Steel Sector

Andhra Pradesh has cleared a ₹1,200 crore investment proposal by Berry Alloys Ltd. to establish an integrated manganese and steel raw materials manufacturing complex at the Bobbili Growth Centre in Vizianagaram district , marking another major step in the state's efforts to expand its industrial and metals manufacturing base. The project is expected to create 813 direct jobs while strengthening the steel supply chain in the region.

The approval follows recommendations from the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) , under which the company has been allotted 93.4 acres of land at a concessional rate of ₹77.2 lakh per acre . The allocation includes 90 acres of industrial land along with an adjoining 3.43-acre parcel to ensure uninterrupted development of the integrated facility.

The investment comes as India works towards achieving its National Steel Policy target of increasing steel production capacity to 300 million tonnes by 2030 . Meeting this goal will require a significant expansion in the production of key raw materials, particularly manganese-based ferro alloys, which play a crucial role in improving the strength, durability and wear resistance of steel used across infrastructure, automobiles, railways, engineering and defence manufacturing.

The proposed complex will house a manganese sinter unit , a Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant , a carbon paste plant , and a 115 MW captive power complex . Once operational, it will have an annual production capacity of 500,000 tonnes of manganese sinter , nearly 330,000 tonnes of DRI , and 60,000 tonnes of carbon paste , creating an integrated manufacturing ecosystem for steel inputs.

Industry experts note that demand for high-grade manganese products is expected to rise as steelmakers increasingly adopt DRI technology , which is considered a cleaner production route capable of lowering carbon emissions compared with conventional blast furnace processes. The project is therefore expected to support both India's growing steel demand and the industry's gradual transition towards more sustainable manufacturing practices.

One of the country's leading ferro alloy producers, Berry Alloys Ltd. already operates manufacturing facilities in Vizianagaram and exports ferro manganese, silico manganese and other specialised alloys to markets across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America . Its proximity to Visakhapatnam Port provides a logistical advantage for exports, while its membership in the International Manganese Institute (IMnI) underscores its presence in the global manganese industry.

The state government described the project as an important move towards value-added mineral processing , emphasising that converting locally available manganese ore into finished industrial products will generate greater economic value than exporting raw minerals. It has also encouraged Berry Alloys and its supplier network to register their operations within Andhra Pradesh, a step expected to strengthen the local industrial ecosystem and ensure that GST revenues generated by the project accrue to the state.

The investment further reinforces Andhra Pradesh's broader industrialisation strategy, which is focused on leveraging its mineral wealth, port infrastructure and investor-friendly policies to build a competitive manufacturing hub. It follows other large-scale steel investments, including the proposed ₹1.3 lakh crore ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India integrated steel plant in Anakapalli , highlighting the state's growing importance in India's expanding steel and metals value chain.