Rubio heads to Jamnagar for talks with Ambani on Venezuelan crude refining

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Reliance Industries' refinery complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, where he will hold talks with chairman Mukesh Ambani on expanding the processing of Venezuelan crude oil.

Rubio has described Reliance's refining capacity as "extraordinary", signalling that Washington sees the facility as a key lever in efforts to help India diversify its energy supplies. Reliance's refineries are equipped to handle the heavy grades of crude that Venezuela produces, making them particularly suited to any increase in Venezuelan oil flows.

The discussions come against the backdrop of broader American efforts to boost Venezuelan oil production, an ambition complicated by ageing infrastructure inside Venezuela itself. Washington appears to be looking to partners with proven refining expertise to bridge that gap.

The Jamnagar meeting between one of America's most senior diplomats and India's wealthiest industrialist underscores the growing strategic dimension of energy ties between the two countries.