Sifting through India’s corporate history, few names resonate as profoundly as Ambani. For decades, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has been a symbol of India’s industrial might, shaped by the visionary zeal of Dhirubhai Ambani and scaled to global prominence by his son Mukesh Ambani.
Today, a new chapter unfolds under the stewardship of Anant Ambani, the youngest scion of the Ambani dynasty. A successor more than a name, Anant is a force of change, guiding RIL into a world where sustainability, innovation, and social responsibility are not ideals but necessities. His path is a model for how India’s corporate behemoths can spearhead the global green revolution while lifting millions.
The Green Pioneer: Revolutionizing Energy and Industry
A daring rethinking of RIL’s primary energy sector is at the core of Anant Ambani’s plan. Anant became the driving force behind Reliance’s ambitious shift to renewable energy after Mukesh Ambani said in 2021 that the company would make sustainable changes at the core of its business philosophy. He has a clear vision: to honor India’s developmental goals while transforming RIL from a fossil fuel giant into a global leader in clean energy.
Jamnagar Refinery: Where Innovation is Fuelled
The crown jewel of RIL’s empire, the Jamnagar Refinery—the world’s largest refining complex—has become a success story of Anant’s green experiments. Under his guidance, the facility is no longer just a hub for crude oil processing but a beacon of circular economy principles.
By pioneering carbon capture technologies, Anant has turned emissions into raw materials for green chemicals, a breakthrough that not only aligns with RIL’s 2035 net-zero target but also positions Jamnagar as a global benchmark for sustainable refining.
Anant Ambani, has stated in various interviews that Jamnagar is the place where he spends most of his time working for Reliance in various capacities. Being a light sleeper, he works over 14 hours a day and ensures that he devotes at least 1-1.5 Hours of that to Vantara, which is his Passion Project.
The Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex: A $10 Billion Bet on India’s Future
Anant’s most ambitious project to date is the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex in Gujarat, a sprawling 5,000-acre hub dedicated to solar panels, advanced battery storage, and green hydrogen production. He believes, this shall benefit people, environment, and our country all at once.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which seeks to establish India as a major exporter of renewable energy worldwide, perfectly fits this program. Lead by Anant, they are pursuing their target to bring the cost of green hydrogen production to $1 per kilogram by 2030 and invest $75 billion in India to make it a green hydrogen hub.
Global Collaborations, Local Impact
Anant’s leadership is not limited to technological innovation but includes strategic global alliances that give India a louder voice on the global platform. Alliances with energy giants such as BP and Saudi Aramco are not financial investments but synergistic partnerships.
The BP tie-up, for example, which goes with the name of Jio-BP, targets the growth of India’s charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, Battery Swaps ACTIVE fuels, and much more. In contrast, the Saudi Aramco venture combines RIL’s refining strengths with state-of-the-art petrochemical technology. “Globalization isn’t about capital alone,” Anant believes, it’s about bringing the world’s best technology to India and taking our solutions to humanity.
For India’s ordinary citizens, these efforts mean practical dividends. The green energy drive has the potential to generate more than 1 million jobs by 2030, spread out in rural and semi-urban areas, providing livelihoods in solar panel production, bioenergy farms, and EV servicing. While this is happening, RIL’s commitment to supply 100 GW of solar power has the potential to reduce electricity prices for households and small enterprises, bringing clean power within everyone’s reach. For this commitment RIL has pledged a massive sum of over Rs.75,000 Crore.
Cricket, Compassion, and Community: Beyond Business
Anant Ambani’s influence extends far beyond boardrooms and refineries. As an avid fan of Mumbai Indians IPL franchise, he has redefined the role of sports in driving social change.
The Mumbai Indians, owned by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) through its subsidiary Indiawin Sports, have seen active participation from the Ambani family in various capacities. Anant’s involvement underscores the family’s commitment to the franchise’s success, even in the absence of formal titles.
The Mumbai Indians’ CSR initiatives, such as player-led campaigns for education and health, have amplified Reliance’s commitment to societal welfare, with initiatives such as Green Match Days.
Vantara: A Sanctuary of Hope
Perhaps the most personal of Anant’s ventures is Vantara (“Star of the Forest”), a 3,000-acre animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Jamnagar. Home to over 2,000 rescued animals—from abused elephants to endangered rhinos—Vantara embodies his philosophy that “compassion is the ultimate corporate responsibility.” In his own words, it is a Passion Project and a Not-For-Profit venture.
The initiative, which includes breeding programs for threatened species and community outreach to combat zoonotic diseases, has drawn acclaim from global conservationists. It includes many rescued animals, who have been given a sanctuary of love, which means, a place akin their natural habitat.
The usage of specially devolved compost, and fodder for the animals which are in the shelters ranging from, elephants to leopards, and birds speaks volumes about Anant’s dedication towards it. In his words he clearly enunciates, “Ye Janwaaro ka Sanghralaya nai, Sevaalaya hai” (Implying: It isn’t a museum of animals or a zoo, it is a sanctuary where we serve animals with devotion)
Empowering the Common Man: Jobs, Health, and Equity
Anant’s vision rests on a strong foundation of inclusiveness. RIL’s clean energy initiatives give emphasis to employment generation in states such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, states which are crucial for India’s industrial development. The Green Energy Giga Complex alone will directly employ 50,000 people, with thousands more working in ancillary MSMEs.
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For farmers, RIL’s decentralized solar grids offer round-the-clock power for irrigation, increasing agricultural output. City residents, in turn, will gain cleaner air as RIL cuts down refinery emissions and plastic waste benefitting masses.
Challenges: Navigating the Road Ahead
Despite the strides, challenges loom. Scaling green hydrogen production to achieve cost targets demands relentless R&D. Transitioning workers from oil-dependent roles to green sectors requires robust reskilling programs—a challenge Anant acknowledges.
This is further deterred by the Energy Security Partnership struck between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump, earlier this month, which leaves potential for Crude-Oil imports and usage fracked in USA, amongst other things such as setting up of Nuclear Power Plants.
Environmental critics also urge RIL to accelerate its phase-out of fossil fuels, highlighting the tension between legacy operations and green ambitions. Anant, however, remains undeterred.
A New Dharma for Corporate India
Anant Ambani’s journey is more than a corporate success story—it’s a manifesto for the role of business in 21st-century India. By harmonizing profitability with planetary care, he is crafting a new dharma for India Inc., one where growth is measured not just in revenue but in lives uplifted and ecosystems preserved.
As Dhirubhai Ambani once said, “Think big, think fast, think ahead.” In Anant’s hands, that mantra has progressed to become “Think green, think inclusive, think forever.” Through Reliance’s green metamorphosis, the Mumbai Indians’ eco-conscious campaigns, and Vantara’s lifeline to wildlife, Anant Ambani is not merely steering a company—he’s charting a course for a sustainable, self-reliant India.
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