Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka of Telangana stressed the critical role of stable and sustainable supply of critical minerals in achieving the state's clean energy goals during a symposium at IIT Hyderabad. The symposium aimed to promote academia-industry collaborations to drive the adoption of green technologies and renewable energy sources. Telangana's investments in floating solar plants, smart grids, energy storage, waste-to-energy projects, and green hydrogen manufacturing hubs were highlighted as integral to the state's vision for a sustainable energy future. The event also saw discussions on India's efforts to become self-reliant in processing critical minerals, with plans to acquire lithium from Australia and develop domestic processing capabilities. The initiative seeks to reduce the need for exporting critical minerals for processing, enhancing India's energy security and sustainability.