Visakhapatnam: Green Energy Deals, Data Centre Controversy, Skills Training and Gold Seizure
Visakhapatnam made headlines this week across energy, technology, education, and law enforcement. NTPC is in active discussions with buyers in Japan, South Korea, and Germany for long-term green ammonia supply from its Pudimadaka hub near the city. Meanwhile, civic activists staged protests over the environmental cost of a proposed Google AI data centre, raising concerns about water scarcity and forest clearances. On the skills front, the city's ITI cluster became the first in India to receive approval under the PM-SETU scheme, with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India pledging Rs 200 crore. And the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence intercepted nearly 6 kg of foreign-origin gold worth Rs 8.98 crore from a vehicle passing through the city.
Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster Becomes India's First PM-SETU Approval, AM/NS India to Invest Rs 200 Crore
In a landmark step for vocational training, the governments of Andhra Pradesh and India, alongside ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), signed a Shareholders' Agreement to upgrade four Government Industrial Training Institutes in the Visakhapatnam cluster under the Centre's PM-SETU scheme. Visakhapatnam's ITI cluster is the first in India to receive approval under the programme, which is designed to align institute curricula with modern industrial requirements. AM/NS India has committed Rs 200 crore to the upgrade, equipping students with skills relevant to steel manufacturing and allied sectors. IT Minister Nara Lokesh, who attended the signing ceremony in Mumbai on October 12, said the partnership would bridge the gap between classroom training and factory-floor expectations. The upgrade is expected to benefit thousands of students annually, giving them a competitive pathway into skilled manufacturing employment at AM/NS India's plants and across the broader Andhra Pradesh industrial corridor. Officials framed the agreement as a model for how state, central, and corporate partners could collectively modernise India's vast ITI network. [5]
Google's Vizag AI Data Centre Faces Backlash Over Water Scarcity and Forest Land Clearance
Residents and activists in Visakhapatnam have mounted growing opposition to Google's planned AI data centre, one of several large tech projects announced for the city under Andhra Pradesh's investment drive. Critics allege the facility will place severe strain on the district's already stressed water supply and power grid, while raising concerns about forest land being cleared for the site. A September 'People's Convention on AI Data Centres' brought together civil society groups who argue that the promised economic benefits — primarily high-skill jobs — are unlikely to reach the broader population, while the burden of infrastructure costs falls on existing residents. Reports allege that around 160 acres of forest land have been cleared, while the government has allocated 586 acres for the project. The backlash reflects wider unease in Andhra Pradesh about the terms under which global tech companies are receiving land and resource concessions. The state government has defended the project as a transformative investment but has not fully addressed water usage commitments or independent environmental assessments, leaving community concerns unresolved. [6]
DRI Seizes 5.83 kg of Foreign-Origin Gold Worth Rs 8.98 Crore in Visakhapatnam
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) made a significant seizure in Visakhapatnam on October 11, intercepting 5.83 kilograms of foreign-origin gold valued at approximately Rs 8.98 crore. The gold was concealed in a private car travelling from Kolkata to Hyderabad and was detected during an intelligence-led interception in the city. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the case. DRI officials described the seizure as part of ongoing operations targeting smuggling corridors that run through Andhra Pradesh, exploiting the state's coastal geography and national highway network as transit routes. Foreign-origin gold, typically smuggled from Southeast Asian or Gulf markets, circumvents customs duty and enters both the grey jewellery market and informal financial channels. The seizure is one of the larger single-vehicle intercepts reported in the region this year and signals continued surveillance by revenue intelligence agencies of overland smuggling routes passing through Visakhapatnam. [7]
NTPC Advances Green Ammonia Export Talks with Japan, South Korea and Germany from Visakhapatnam Hub
NTPC Limited is in active commercial discussions with energy importers in Japan, South Korea, and Germany to secure long-term supply contracts for green ammonia produced at its Pudimadaka Green Hydrogen Hub near Visakhapatnam. The 1,200-acre hub represents an estimated investment of Rs 1.85 lakh crore and is designed to integrate renewable energy generation, desalination, and green chemical manufacturing with dedicated port export infrastructure. NTPC Green Energy Limited has already signed an MoU with Japan's ENEOS Corporation for the supply of green methanol and hydrogen derivatives. Additionally, NTPC Renewable Energy Limited has executed a Green Ammonia Purchase Agreement under the National Green Hydrogen Mission's SIGHT scheme, committing to supply 70,000 metric tonnes per annum. By pursuing binding and non-binding export commitments ahead of full facility commissioning, NTPC aims to de-risk the project commercially and signal to global markets that India can serve as a reliable large-scale green fuel supplier, reinforcing Visakhapatnam's emerging role as a clean energy export hub. [8]
Sources: [5] India Technology News · [6] The New Indian Express · [7] ANI News · [8] Sahi