US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Visits Jamnagar

Jamnagar: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Jamnagar on Wednesday as part of his India visit, with a visit to Reliance Industries Ltd’s (RIL) massive refinery complex expected to be a key part of his itinerary.

The visit comes a day after Rubio met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Indian business leaders in Mumbai. His engagement with Reliance, led by Chairman Mukesh Ambani, is being closely watched amid growing discussions on India-US energy cooperation, trade relations and global oil supplies.

Located in Jamnagar, the Reliance complex comprises two refineries with a combined capacity of 68.2 million tonnes per annum, including 35.2 million tonnes dedicated to exports. The facility is a major global supplier of refined petroleum products, including diesel and aviation fuel, and plays a significant role in international fuel markets.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday, after arriving for a three-day visit to India, Rubio said US officials would explore opportunities for Indian companies to expand their involvement in Venezuela’s oil sector. He noted that Indian refineries had experience processing Venezuelan heavy crude and were equipped to handle larger volumes as production increased.

“India is a refining superpower. They have the capability to refine heavy crude. They’ve done so in the past, and I think as more and more Venezuelan oil comes online, it’s something they can do,” Rubio said.

Rubio also highlighted existing oil concessions held by Indian companies in Venezuela, saying these could help boost production.

“They also, by the way, have pre-existing oil concessions in Venezuela that can produce more themselves,” he said, expressing optimism about the prospects for cooperation.

Reliance Industries could play a key role in such efforts given its ability to process a wide range of crude grades, including heavy and complex feedstocks, at its Jamnagar refinery complex in Gujarat, the world’s largest single-site refining hub.

Although the US has not disclosed the detailed agenda for Rubio’s Jamnagar visit, media reports suggest that potential areas of discussion could include Reliance’s proposed investment in a refinery project in Texas, increased purchases of American energy and the company’s crude oil sourcing strategy.

The proposed refinery in Brownsville, Texas, being developed by America First Refining, has attracted attention following US President Donald Trump’s announcement in March highlighting Reliance’s investment in the project. The initiative is expected to strengthen commercial ties between American energy companies and the Indian conglomerate.

Rubio’s arrival in Jamnagar highlights the growing importance of India’s refining sector in global energy trade. The visit also comes at a crucial time for India-US relations, with both countries seeking to expand commercial cooperation while navigating differences over energy sourcing and trade policy. DeshGujarat