CM Chandrababu Launches Gold Mining Project in Kurnool's Jonnagiri
Synopsis
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on 24 June 2026 inaugurated the Jonnagiri Gold Mining Project in Kurnool district, flagging off heavy ore-transport vehicles and visiting a simulator training centre for women and youth. GeoMysore Services and Deccan Gold Mines will invest Rs 405 crore, targeting output of up to 2 tonnes of gold annually at full capacity.
Key Takeaways
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the Jonnagiri Gold Mining Project in Kurnool district on 24 June 2026 .
GeoMysore Services and Deccan Gold Mines are jointly investing Rs 405 crore in the project.
Gold production is planned to start at 400 kg per year , scale to 900 kg , and eventually reach 2 tonnes per year .
A heavy-vehicle simulator training centre has been set up at the site to train local women and youth in mining operations.
Ministers Kollu Ravindra , Nimmala Rama Naidu , and TG Bharat were present at the inauguration.
The project aligns with Andhra Pradesh's public-private partnership strategy to reactivate known mineral deposits for employment and revenue generation.
The Chief Minister's Office of Andhra Pradesh announced on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 that Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the Jonnagiri Gold Mining Project in Kurnool district, marking the formal launch of commercial gold extraction operations at one of the state's most prominent mineral sites.
Context
At the inauguration, CM Naidu flagged off heavy vehicles tasked with transporting ore-bearing earth from the mine site, signalling the commencement of active extraction. He also visited a simulator training centre established at the site where women and youth are being trained to operate heavy mining vehicles — a skills initiative embedded within the project's launch framework.
GeoMysore Services and Deccan Gold Mines are jointly executing the project with a combined investment of Rs 405 crore. The two firms will carry out gold mining operations at Jonnagiri, a village in Kurnool district long identified for its gold-bearing geology.
Policy Backdrop
The Geological Survey of India confirmed gold reserves at Jonnagiri and nearby sites through exploration work conducted in the 2000s. Andhra Pradesh governments have since the early 2010s issued mining leases and invited private sector participation to monetise these deposits through public-private partnerships.
Deccan Gold Mines is among India's established gold exploration firms with a footprint across southern India, while GeoMysore Services is partnering in the extraction operations. The project fits the state's broader strategy of reactivating dormant mineral prospects under updated national mineral policies to generate employment and state revenue.
Production Plan and Scale
According to the Chief Minister's Office, the project is planned in phases: output will begin at 400 kg of gold per year, scale to 900 kg per year in a subsequent phase, and eventually reach 2 tonnes per year at full capacity. This phased ramp-up is designed to allow operational and regulatory consolidation at each stage before expansion.
The pairing of a heavy-equipment simulator centre with the mine launch underscores the state government's intent to generate local employment, particularly for women and youth in Kurnool district, alongside the commercial extraction activity.
Stakeholders and Impact
Ministers Kollu Ravindra, Nimmala Rama Naidu, and TG Bharat attended the inauguration ceremony alongside other officials. Their presence signals the political weight the state government is placing on the project as a marker of its industrial investment drive.
Local communities in and around Jonnagiri stand to benefit from direct employment in mining operations and from the skills training infrastructure. The project is positioned under the state's 'Choose Speed, Choose AP' investment promotion narrative, which has been used to brand large-ticket industrial launches.
What's Next
The immediate milestone will be sustaining the initial annual output of 400 kg before seeking regulatory clearances for the expansion phases targeting 900 kg and eventually 2 tonnes of gold per year. Environmental clearances and potential lease extensions for later production stages will be closely watched by industry observers and local stakeholders alike. The success of the simulator-based training programme for women and youth could also serve as a template for skill integration in future mining projects across the state.
Point of View
Arriving at a time when the state is aggressively courting industrial capital post-bifurcation. By embedding a skills training centre within the mine inauguration, the government is attempting to pre-empt displacement narratives and build a local employment story around an extractive project. The phased production plan — 400 kg to 2 tonnes annually — gives the administration visible milestones to communicate progress without overcommitting on delivery timelines. Deccan Gold Mines' involvement also reflects a broader national pattern of private firms re-entering dormant gold prospects as regulatory frameworks around mining leases have been updated in recent years.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Jonnagiri Gold Mining Project located?
The Jonnagiri Gold Mining Project is located in Jonnagiri village, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh . The area has been identified for its gold-bearing geological deposits since surveys conducted in the 2000s.
Who are the companies involved in the Jonnagiri gold mining project?
GeoMysore Services and Deccan Gold Mines are the two companies executing the project, with a combined investment of Rs 405 crore .
How much gold will be produced at Jonnagiri?
Production is planned to begin at 400 kg of gold per year , increase to 900 kg per year in the next phase, and eventually reach 2 tonnes per year at full operational capacity.
What is the simulator training centre at Jonnagiri?
A simulator training centre has been set up at the Jonnagiri mine site to train local women and youth in operating heavy vehicles used to transport ore-bearing earth within the mining area.
Who inaugurated the Jonnagiri Gold Mining Project?
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the project on 24 June 2026 , flagging off heavy ore-transport vehicles and visiting the on-site training centre.
