Rubio presses Reliance on Western Hemisphere crude refining at Jamnagar

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Reliance Industries that Washington wanted to work more closely on refining energy from the Western Hemisphere, describing such cooperation as beneficial to both countries. Rubio said the US would talk with Reliance about refining more Venezuelan crude.

Rubio toured Reliance Industries' complex at Jamnagar in Gujarat on Wednesday. Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani and executive director Anant Ambani hosted him during the visit. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor accompanied Rubio.

The Jamnagar facility is described as the world's largest single-site oil-refining complex. It can process about 1.4 million barrels of crude oil per day. Its ability to process a wide range of crude grades makes it strategically important as Washington seeks to encourage more Indian purchases of Venezuelan oil.

Reliance is partnering on a proposed 168,000-barrel-per-day refinery project in Brownsville, Texas. Reliance has signed a long-term agreement to purchase the plant's refined products.

Reliance said Rubio and Gor were briefed on its new-energy giga-factories, which are being commissioned in phases, and the data centres under construction. The visit included discussions on the global energy landscape and opportunities for commercial partnerships across conventional and new energy. The exchange covered reliable and affordable energy supplies, technological advances, resilient supply chains and the investment required to meet growing demand.

Discussions also explored the intersection of energy and digital infrastructure, including the role of dependable power in supporting data centres and the expansion of the digital economy. Mukesh Ambani and Anant Ambani shared their perspectives on opportunities for collaboration with US companies, drawing on complementary strengths in technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing.