Vishnu Chemicals Limited (VCL) entered into a definitive Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with DCX Chrome SAS, France (DCX) to establish a greenfield manufacturing facility for high-purity chromium metal in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh. The strategic partnership brings together VCL’s strong position in chromium chemicals and DCX’s expertise in high-purity aluminothermic chromium metal and specialized chromium powders. Through the joint venture, both companies aim to strengthen India’s domestic manufacturing capabilities for advanced engineering materials and reduce dependence on imports.
6,000 MTPA Chromium Metal Plant to Come Up in Vizag
Both partners will hold an equal 50% equity stake in the proposed joint venture company. The facility is planned with an installed production capacity of 6,000 metric tons per annum (MTPA) and will focus entirely on manufacturing high-purity chromium metal. Importantly, the project will help address India’s dependence on imported high-purity chromium metal, particularly for applications requiring advanced materials with stringent performance and quality specifications.
Combining Technology with Reliable Raw Material Supply
DCX Chrome will contribute its proprietary process technology and metallurgical expertise in aluminothermic chromium production. As a result, the proposed facility will have access to technology designed to manufacture high-purity chromium metal for demanding applications, including those requiring stringent aerospace standards. Vishnu Chemicals, producer of chromium chemicals in India, will support the joint venture with a reliable supply of chrome oxide green, a key raw material for chromium metal production. Consequently, the collaboration creates an integrated manufacturing model that combines technology, raw material security and domestic production capabilities.
Strengthening India’s Advanced Materials Manufacturing
The proposed chromium metal plant aligns with India’s broader objective of developing domestic manufacturing capabilities for strategically important materials. By establishing production within India, the joint venture is expected to reduce dependence on imported chromium metal, strengthen domestic supply-chain security, support the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, enable local access to high-purity engineering materials, support strategic aerospace and defence requirements and create high-skilled employment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh. The project is expected to contribute to the industrial development of Visakhapatnam and the wider Andhra Pradesh region by creating opportunities for skilled engineering, manufacturing and operational talent.
Chromium Metal Targets High-Growth Industrial Applications
High-purity chromium metal plays an important role in several advanced engineering and industrial applications. The facility is therefore positioned to serve a range of high-value end markets such as aerospace and aircraft engines, oil and gas industry and nuclear energy and gas turbines.
Vishnu Chemicals Expands Its Specialty Chemicals Footprint
The joint venture represents another strategic step in Vishnu Chemicals’ efforts to expand beyond its established chromium chemical operations and participate in higher-value advanced materials markets. By combining its domestic market position and raw material capabilities with DCX Chrome’s specialized metallurgical technology, VCL aims to establish a stronger presence in the high-purity chromium metal value chain. At the same time, DCX Chrome gains a strategic manufacturing platform in India, enabling it to serve growing demand from aerospace, energy, oil and gas and chemical process industries.
Leadership Highlights Long-Term Strategic Partnership
Krishna Murthy Cherukuri, Chairman and Managing Director, Vishnu Chemicals Limited, said the partnership represents an important milestone in the company’s specialty chemicals expansion and India’s manufacturing ambitions. He highlighted that the collaboration with DCX Chrome will combine complementary capabilities while contributing to India’s objective of greater self-reliance in advanced materials.
Siddartha Cherukuri, Joint Managing Director, Vishnu Chemicals Limited, described the agreement as a long-term strategic partnership rather than simply a joint venture. He emphasized that VCL’s domestic leadership, combined with DCX Chrome’s metallurgical expertise, creates a strong platform for future growth in high-performance materials.
Fernando Accioly, CEO, DCX Chrome SAS, said the company is pleased to partner with Vishnu Chemicals to establish the state-of-the-art facility in Visakhapatnam. He noted that the project will combine DCX Chrome’s aluminothermic technology and more than 80 years of industrial expertise with VCL’s operational capabilities and raw material supply. According to Accioly, the investment represents an important milestone in DCX Chrome’s growth strategy and reflects the company’s confidence in the long-term global demand for high-purity chromium metal.
Strategic Move Towards Domestic Chromium Metal Production
The proposed 6,000 MTPA greenfield chromium metal plant in Visakhapatnam marks a significant development in India’s advanced materials manufacturing landscape. By bringing together Vishnu Chemicals’ chromium chemical expertise and DCX Chrome’s specialized chromium metal technology, the joint venture aims to establish a domestic manufacturing base capable of serving critical industries. As per the press release, as demand for high-performance materials continues to grow across aerospace, defence, nuclear energy, oil and gas, gas turbines and chemical processing, the project could play an important role in strengthening India’s position in the global advanced materials supply chain.
