Andhra Pradesh is set to emerge as a pivotal player in India’s gold production sector as massive gold reserves have been identified and extraction works have officially commenced at Jonnagiri village in Kurnool district. This venture marks the largest private sector gold mining project in the country since independence. This ambitious development is expected to significantly boost domestic gold extraction and position the region as a major mineral hub.
Geomysore Services India Private Limited is executing this mega ‘Jonnagiri Gold Project’ with an investment exceeding ₹400 crores, utilizing open-pit mining methods across an expansive area of approximately 598 hectares. Geologists estimate that Jonnagiri alone holds around 50 tonnes of gold reserves. Once full-scale commercial operations kick off, officials project an annual output of 1,000 kilograms (one metric tonne) of refined gold consistently over the next 15 years.
Currently, India consumes over 800 tonnes of gold annually, but domestic production remains remarkably low, with Karnataka’s Hutti mines contributing a mere 1.5 tonnes and the historic Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) being shut down since the year 2000. In this context, the Jonnagiri project will provide a massive impetus to local production. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, the facility will extract about one gram of gold from every tonne of raw ore. With further gold deposits identified in regions like Ramagiri, Javvakula, and Chigurikunta-Bisnatham, the government aims to dramatically reduce India’s reliance on costly gold imports and steer the nation toward self-reliance in the mineral sector.
