SVU opens new career path in critical minerals sector

Tirupati: Asminerals such as lithium, graphite, rare earth elements and other strategic resources become essential for future technologies, Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) has introduced an MTech programme in Materials and Mineral Processing to prepare engineers for the emerging materials and mineral-processing sector.

The programme, the first of its kind in the state, is being offered by the Department of Chemical Engineering, SVU College of Engineering, in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad on a self-supporting basis.

The programme has been designed to meet the growing demand for engineers with specialised knowledge of the complete mineral-to-material value chain. It covers areas such as mineral characterisation, beneficiation, separation, extraction, processing, purification, recycling and value addition.

Critical minerals have become increasingly important with the expansion of electric vehicles, renewable energy, battery storage, semiconductor technologies, electronics, aerospace, defence and advanced manufacturing. Lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, copper and rare-earth elements are among the resources gaining strategic importance.

India has also launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to strengthen the entire value chain, including exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, recycling, research, technology development and human-resource development. The SVU programme is intended to contribute to the need for specialised technical manpower in this sector. The programme assumes particular importance for Andhra Pradesh, which has a diverse mineral-resource base and a long coastline with heavy-mineral sands. These deposits contain minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, zircon, garnet, sillimanite and monazite, which are important sources or carriers of titanium, zirconium and rare-earth elements.

SVU Vice Chancellor Prof Tata Narasinga Rao said universities should prepare students not only for present employment opportunities but also for industries that are expected to shape the coming decades. “The world is moving from merely securing mineral resources to securing the technologies required to process them and convert them into high-value advanced materials. Creating specialised technical manpower in Materials and Mineral Processing is therefore the need of the hour,” he said.

He added that the collaboration with IIT Hyderabad would strengthen the academic and research orientation of the programme and expose students to emerging developments in materials and mineral-processing technologies.

Graduates can explore opportunities in mineral and metallurgical industries, critical-mineral processing, advanced materials, battery and energy-storage industries, electric mobility, recycling, research and development, consultancy and advanced manufacturing. The programme also provides scope for higher studies, technology development, start-ups and entrepreneurship.

The programme has 20 seats and the fee is Rs 1,45,170. Admission will be through APPGECET-2026. Eligible engineering graduates can exercise their option during counselling. Details are available at cap.apcfss.in.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pradeep Vennelakanti

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