Anant Ambani announces Rs 1L-cr Reliance bet on AP

Madanapalle: Reliance Industries plans to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in Andhra Pradesh to set up compressed biogas (CBG) plants, creating over 3 lakh jobs and generating nearly Rs 60,000 crore in revenue for the State over the coming decades, Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant M Ambani said on Friday. Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Rayalaseema Horticulture Hub and Indian School of Agriculture (ISA) in Madanapalle, Ambani said the investment would support the State’s transition towards cleaner energy while creating new opportunities for farmers.

“Our kisans, who ensure India’s food security, will now strengthen India’s energy security too - making India self-reliant in energy,” he said. “That is why Reliance Industries is grateful to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for the opportunity to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in the state to set up compressed biogas (CBG) plants.”

CBG is produced by processing agricultural residue, animal dung, food waste and other biomass into methane-rich gas, providing a cleaner alternative to conventional natural gas. Ambani said the plants would create over 3 lakh jobs and bring nearly Rs 60,000 crore in revenue to the State over the next decades. He said Reliance was also investing in clean-energy projects in Rayalaseema and exploring opportunities in advanced manufacturing. Citing State government data, Ambani said Andhra Pradesh had approved 388 mega projects since June 2024, with investment commitments exceeding Rs 14 lakh crore and potential employment of nearly 11 lakh people. About a third of these investments are headed to Rayalaseema, he said.

On the ISA, Ambani said Reliance would support it through strategic investment, digital capabilities, technical expertise and industry partnerships. “I request you: Treat me as a son of Andhra,” he told Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The proposed Rs 40,000-crore horticulture hub will promote technology-driven agriculture in Rayalaseema. “Today, the Rayalaseema Horticulture Hub, backed by Rs 40,000 crore, brings the rising sun of India’s growth to Rayalaseema,” Ambani said.

He said the ISA would combine artificial intelligence and modern technology with farmers’ traditional knowledge, covering pest prediction, drone-based crop monitoring, precision irrigation, robotics and price intelligence. “Here in this School, Artificial Intelligence will meet the Traditional Intelligence of Bharat’s hard-working Kisans,” he said. Ambani said Jio would collaborate with ISA to take training programmes to millions of farmers in Indian languages through virtual classrooms in villages. Rural youth could also be trained as digitally enabled extension workers.

“Today, we are not just laying foundation stones. We are laying the foundations for rural enterprise, stronger villages, a more sustainable India, and most importantly, for improving the lives of our farmers,” he said.

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