Jayadev Galla, Chairman of Amara Raja Energy & Mobility, has voiced apprehensions about the financial stability of the Congress-led government in Telangana, questioning its capacity to uphold the industrial incentives promised by the previous BRS administration. These concerns surface as Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy embarks on a US tour to advocate for Telangana as an attractive investment locale.
Amara Raja Group recently celebrated the inauguration of their Customer Qualification Plant for cell manufacturing and the opening of Phase 1 of their battery pack plant, which has a capacity of 1.5 GWh, in Mahabubnagar district. Previously, the group had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BRS government, pledging an investment of $1.25 billion (INR 9,500 crore) over a decade. This investment aims to establish R&D facilities and a Greenfield manufacturing site for Lithium-Ion batteries, projected to reach capacities up to 16 GWh, with an associated Battery Pack Assembly unit expected to hit 5 GWh.
"The uncertainty stems from the change in government. Until we see concrete actions, the doubts will persist. We are hopeful but must acknowledge the financial constraints of the government. It's not about their intentions but their actual fiscal ability to meet these commitments," Galla remarked.
Discussing future expansions beyond 16 GWh, Galla expressed optimism, contingent on the current government's reliability. "We expect no issues presently, but shifts in government can affect adherence to commitments. We remain watchful and optimistic. Positive experiences could consolidate our plans to expand further within Telangana," he added.
Galla also highlighted ambitious growth targets for Amara Raja Group, envisioning it as a potential $5 billion enterprise within five years, assuming favorable EV market conditions continue.
Despite these challenges, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and his delegation are diligently working to draw investments, presenting Telangana as a promising economic hub in the US. The financial integrity of the new Congress government, however, remains a critical issue for investors like Amara Raja Group.
