Mumbai: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar complex in Gujarat on Wednesday as Washington seeks to strengthen energy
cooperation with India, increase American energy exports and encourage Indian investment in the United States.
Accompanied by his wife, Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio, he toured the world’s largest single-site oil refinery, the Vantara wildlife conservation centre and Reliance’s developing clean-energy manufacturing facilities. Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, and other members of his family welcomed the delegation. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor was also present.
Rubio meets Ambanis
🇮🇳 Reliance Industries welcomed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador Sergio Gor to Jamnagar to showcase its world-class refinery, New Energy, and digital infrastructure. A valuable step toward strengthening India–US cooperation and future innovation. 🤝 https://t.co/QhjO9JUznh
— Nita Mukesh Ambani (@NitaMukeshAmban) October 21, 2026
The visit followed Rubio’s remarks describing India as a crude-refining “superpower” on Tuesday. Washington has been encouraging India to process more Venezuelan oil and purchase greater quantities of American energy.
Reliance said the delegation received briefings on its new energy manufacturing facilities and data centres under construction. Discussions covered global energy markets, affordable supplies, technological developments, supply chains and potential commercial partnerships.
Reliance, in a statement, said, “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.”
Gor highlighted the growth in US liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies to India. In a post on X, he said, “Over the past year, India’s imports of US LPG have surged from under 10 per cent to 67 per cent, making the United States India’s largest LPG supplier.”
Texas refinery plans
Reliance’s proposed refinery in Brownsville, Texas, is another key part of the relationship. The 168,000-barrel-a-day project, being developed by America First Refining, is designed to process US-produced light shale crude. If completed, it would be the first major new refinery in the US in around five decades. Reliance has agreed to purchase the plant’s refined products under a long-term arrangement.
However, changing crude supplies at Jamnagar may not be straightforward. Russian oil accounted for about a third of the complex’s feedstock between July and September 2026. Decisions on sourcing will also depend on prices, shipping costs and refinery requirements.
Rubio’s visit also highlighted Reliance’s investments in clean energy and conservation. Its planned Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex will manufacture solar modules, battery storage systems, fuel cells and other technologies.
The visit followed Rubio’s discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai on Tuesday. Their talks covered energy, trade, investment, defence and critical technologies, alongside efforts to resolve outstanding differences over a bilateral trade agreement.
For Washington, closer ties could support energy exports and investment. For India, the challenge is to expand cooperation while retaining flexibility in its energy sourcing decisions.
