Reliance Industries (RIL), India’s biggest gas producer, is currently selling 2-3 million tonne of petroleum products a year to Africa and sees potential for more. At present, RIL directly sells products into East Africa through its marketing firm Gapco.
RIL, which owns the world's biggest refining complex with total combined capacity of 1.24 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil, currently exports most of the fuels from its giant complex as India does not compensate private refiners for selling fuels such as diesel and kerosene at subsidized rates mandated by the government. Its major markets are the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Out of the 1,400 fuel stations it has in the country, RIL is currently operating 600 fuel stations, mainly in western and southern India. The company is in no mood to expand its local retail operations unless it gets a level playing field.
