ROAD TO SELF-RELIANCE

RIL'S $128-BILLION TOP LINE MAKES IT BIGGER THAN THE GDP OF MORE THAN 130 COUNTRIES. NOW, ITS GOAL IS TO EMERGE AS 'AN ECONOMY IN ITSELF' OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS

- BY RAHUL OBEROI

The marker of an iconic company is its ability to adapt in a dynamic world. Each time it appears that Reliance Industries (RIL) has peaked, the country's most valued conglomerate reinvents itself. Its latest transformation centres around its bold foray into new energy. The company has commissioned the first line of solar photovoltaic module facility of 1GW. It is targeting 10GW by next year.

With its full range of renewable energy solutions—solar, energy storage, green hydrogen, bioenergy and wind—the new energy business is set to play a significant role in future growth, say experts. “During FY25, we have laid a strong foundation for our projects in renewable energy and battery operations. In the coming quarters, we will see the transition of this business from incubation to operationalisation. The new energy growth engine will create significant value for Reliance, for India and for the world,” RIL Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani said while announcing the March quarter results. In Q4FY25, RIL reported its highest-ever consolidated net profit of ₹19,407 crore, up 2.4% YoY. Fast growth in retail and digital offset softer earnings from energy. Consolidated gross sales jumped 8.8% to a record ₹2.88 lakh crore.

Overall, FY25 consolidated gross sales and net profit came in at a record ₹10.71 lakh crore (up 7.1% YoY) and ₹69,648 crore (up 0.4% YoY), respectively. In dollar terms, the $128-billion top line makes RIL bigger than the GDP of more than 130 countries.

THE TRANSFORMATION