Rubio’s comments came as he toured Reliance Industries’ sprawling Jamnagar complex, the world’s largest refinery, where he underscored India’s capacity to handle heavy, sour crude.
The coker units at Jamnagar can upgrade Venezuelan oil’s high sulfur content into marketable products, a capability few global refineries possess.
India’s recent 18% tariff proposal on U.S. goods was coupled with safeguards for dairy and agriculture, leaving energy as a potential lever to balance the trade equation.
Leveraging pre‑existing concessions in Venezuela, Reliance could scale up Venezuelan crude intake, providing Washington a market‑based partner to stabilize oil prices amid Russian sanctions.
A Jamnagar worker, Ramesh Patel, said he hopes the influx of Venezuelan oil will create jobs for the 20,000 locals who depend on the refinery.
The two ministries have slated a joint session for 12 October, after which they will negotiate the supply terms under the forthcoming trade pact.