Jamnagar: The heartbeat of Reliance, says Nita Ambani at refinery's 25th anniversary

The refinery, completed in just 33 months, overcame significant logistical challenges.

Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, described Jamnagar as the "soul of Reliance" during the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the Jamnagar Refinery. Speaking to employees and their families at the event, she expressed how Jamnagar, often called the 'Jewel of the Reliance family,' holds a special place in the hearts of all generations of the Ambani family.

"Jamnagar holds a very deep and dear place in our hearts. For Kokila mummy (Kokilaben Ambani), it is her 'janmabhoomi' (birth place), the land of her birth, representing her roots and values," Nita Ambani said, referencing her mother-in-law, who was present at the celebration.

"She is here with us today and all this has been possible only because of her 'aashirwad' (blessings). Thank you mummy for everything that you do for us," she added.

Nita Ambani also honored her late father-in-law, Dhirubhai Ambani, saying, "For Papa, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani, Jamnagar was his 'karmabhoomi' (workplace), the land of his vision, his dreams, his destiny, symbolising his duty, dedication and purpose...I am sure he is showering his blessings on all of us here in Jamnagar."

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She went on to explain how the refinery project was a realization of Dhirubhai’s dreams. "This is where Papa saw the big dream of setting up the world's largest grassroots refinery, and this is where Mukesh (Ambani) helped to bring his father's dream into reality. For our children, especially Anant, it is his 'Sevabhoomi', the land of his service and compassion."

The Jamnagar refinery, which opened on December 28, 1999, was Reliance's first and has grown to become the largest refining hub in the world over the past 25 years.

At its inception, the refinery faced skepticism from global experts, who doubted the feasibility of building such a large-scale refinery in a remote, arid region that lacked basic infrastructure like roads, electricity, and drinking water. However, Reliance founder Dhirubhai Ambani defied these challenges, turning Jamnagar into an industrial and technological hub through this ambitious project.

The refinery, completed in just 33 months, overcame significant logistical challenges. Today, Jamnagar is home to some of the world’s largest and most advanced facilities, including Alkylation, Refinery Off-Gas Cracker (ROGC), Paraxylene, Polypropylene, and Petcoke gasification plants.

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