Marco Rubio’s Jamnagar Refinery Visit Draws Attention Amid US Diesel Crisis

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming visit to Mumbai and Jamnagar comes as the Donald Trump administration grapples with soaring diesel prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. While Washington has not officially confirmed that securing fuel supplies is on Rubio’s agenda, his planned visit to Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery, the world’s largest refining complex at a single location, has drawn attention to India’s potential role in global energy markets.

Rubio is scheduled to visit India from October 19 to 22 and meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai on October 20. The programme also reportedly includes meetings involving Reliance Industries and discussions on energy cooperation and investment. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has described the trip as more business-focused, highlighting Reliance’s role in a proposed refinery project in Texas.

The timing is significant. US diesel prices reached a record nominal high of $6.529 per gallon on September 21 before easing to $6.179 on October 12, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Diesel powers trucks, freight trains, agricultural machinery and other equipment across the country. Higher prices increase transportation costs and can push up the prices of food and everyday essentials.

President Trump has also sought to persuade Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, which have been repeatedly targeted during the war. Damage to these facilities can disrupt supplies of refined petroleum products and put upward pressure on international prices. On October 16, Trump waived key sanctions and tariffs under legislation targeting buyers of Russian oil and gas, including proposed 100% duties affecting countries such as India and China.

India’s refining capacity could prove important in this environment. Reliance’s Jamnagar complex can process around 1.4 million barrels of crude oil per day, producing diesel, petrol, aviation fuel and other petroleum products. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Indian refiners have processed discounted Russian crude and exported refined fuels to international markets, including Europe. Reuters reported in July that Reliance increased diesel shipments to Europe and Brazil, with European exports reaching an estimated four million to five million barrels that month.

India has also recently reduced the export duty on diesel. Announced on October 15 and effective October 16, the change lowered the duty from Rs 16 to Rs 8.50 per litre. Meanwhile, the export duty on petrol rose from 50 paise to Rs 2.50 per litre, making the tax treatment of the two fuels different.

Reliance is also backing the proposed America First Refining project in Brownsville, Texas, which Trump announced as a major new US refinery project. The investment has added another dimension to the energy discussions surrounding Rubio’s visit.

His decision to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar rather than New Delhi has also triggered political debate. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the arrangement, while the Ministry of External Affairs said hosting foreign dignitaries outside the capital had been a practice for about a decade.