NEW DELHI — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in India and heading Wednesday to an unlikely destination: a small coastal town in western India that has the world’s largest oil refining complex.
The city of Jamnagar in the Indian state of Gujarat is home to a vast refining complex operated by a billionaire. Mukesh Ambani Trusted industries. Rubio’s visit comes as the United States seeks new markets for Venezuelan crude and highlights the growing importance of energy investments in relations between Washington and New Delhi.
Here’s more on what Rubio’s visit to Jamnagar means:
It’s mostly a question of oil
Rubio’s visit to the Jamnagar facility comes as Washington pushes the country to diversify its energy imports away from Russia and looking for markets to increase Venezuelan oil production.
Rubio said Tuesday he would discuss increasing Venezuelan oil processing with Reliance and that India could play a role in increasing global oil supplies as Venezuelan crude production increases, calling the country a “refining superpower.”
“They have the capacity to refine heavy crude. They have done it in the past, and I think as more and more Venezuelan oil comes online, this is something they can do,” he told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Jamnagar refinery could help ease energy disruptions
Rubio said his visit to Jamnagar would provide an opportunity to explore how large-scale refining capacity can help countries deal with energy security concerns that have been exacerbated by wars involving Iran and Yemen and threats to shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
“Energy is linked to national security. You know, countries are fighting wars over energy, for example. Economies are collapsing because of lack of energy. So we’re going to go to a company that has huge refining capacity, so it makes perfect sense to talk to them about it,” Rubio said.
The Jamnagar refinery has a crude processing capacity of around 1.4 million barrels per day, according to the company. Its facilities convert crude oil into fuels such as gasoline and diesel, as well as petrochemical byproducts used to make plastics, synthetic fibers and other industrial materials.
The size and technical sophistication of the refinery are particularly valuable when geopolitical disruptions or sanctions change the availability and price of oil.
Venezuelan oil alone would not be enough to offset possible supply disruptions elsewhere, Rubio said, but increased production could provide some short-term relief.
The refinery is the jewel of Ambani
Rubio’s visit also marks the influence of Reliance and the company’s boss, Mukesh Ambani, whom Rubio plans to meet in Jamnagar.
Reliance Industries is one of India’s largest private sector conglomerates and its businesses span petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecommunications, retail and new energy.
The company also plays a role in the US administration’s efforts to increase domestic energy production: US President Donald Trump in March announced a $300 billion refinery project in Brownsville, Texas, backed by Reliance Industries.
The Jamnagar refinery plays a pivotal role in its energy business, strengthening Reliance Industries’ position in global oil markets. But the city has also gained fame for reasons beyond energy.
In March 2024, Ambani’s youngest son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant detained lavish pre-wedding celebrations there, attracting global business leaders, celebrities and high-profile political figures. The festivities highlighted the family’s wealth and international connections, while drawing unprecedented attention to the city.
Since then, the Ambani family has also organized other extravagant family and festive celebrations in Jamnagar. And in doing so, it has increasingly positioned the oil refinery as its crown jewel, elevating the industrial hub to a global showcase of Reliance Industries’ wealth and influence.
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