Reliance may bid for Haldia petrochem zone

Salim of Indonesia already in the fray.

Reliance Industries (RIL) is likely to throw its hat in the ring to develop infrastructure in the proposed Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) at Haldia.

It is hoping a positive response from the West Bengal government in the backdrop of its prowess to be a key investor in the PCPIR.

Sources close to Reliance informed that Mukesh Ambani would express its interest to develop the SEZ in Haldia while meeting West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattachajee on Tuesday.

This has assumed significance because the state government has already spoken to the Indonesia based Salim group for developing Haldia SEZ last week.

Salim CEO Beni Santosa met Bhattacharjee last week. It had estimated 25,000 acre land for the proposed SEZ at Haldia.

"Reliance is keen to develop SEZ at Haldia, now it is for the state government to decide what they will do," sources close to Reliance said. There is a speculation that the state government may request Reliance to form a joint venture for developing SEZ at Haldia.

"Reliance is ready to float a separate company for the Haldia SEZ. Now the structure of the company will depend on the response of the state government," added sources.

Reliance is already developing an SEZ near Gurgaon in Haryana. Besides the SEZ, Mukesh Ambani would discuss at length about its strategy for retail expansion in West Bengal with the chief minister.

Reliance Retail Ltd, the retail arm of Reliance group, had already made a detailed presentation about its retail plans to the chief secretary Amit Kiran Dev earlier this month. Reliance would pursue a two-pronged strategy for retail here.

The company intends to set up shopping malls in district headquarters and Kolkata and hitech rural procurement hubs in 5-6 places for procurement of vegetables.

Besides retail and SEZ, Ambani would also discuss about its proposed city gas distribution project in Kolkata.

Reliance is planning to bring gas from its landfall point at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to Kolkata via Haldia. Reliance is bringing gas to Kakinada from KG basin.