Reliance Industries and GE form a global partnership to drive digital transformation in the industrial world

 Addressable market is worth over USD 25 billion globally  Partnership will provide Industrial IOT solutions to customers in oil & gas, fertilizer, power, healthcare, telecom and other industries   

MUMBAI, 17th November 2016: Reliance Industries Limited (NSE: Reliance) and GE (NYSE: GE) today announced the signing of a global partnership agreement in the Industrial IOT (IIOT) space whereby RIL and GE will work together to build out joint applications on GE’s Predix platform.  The first-of-its-kind partnership marks the coming together of two of the world’s largest industrial conglomerates to provide Industrial IOT solutions to customers in oil & gas, fertilizer, power, healthcare, telecom and other industries. The agreement was signed in the presence of Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO, GE and Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited.  

GE will provide its Predix cloud offering, Industrial Internet applications and data science expertise. RIL will develop solutions on Predix as an Independent Software Vendor (ISV), bringing to bear its over 30 years of data, process and operational expertise. RIL will also offer nationwide connectivity infrastructure to customers through a 4G network powered by Jio. GE would offer the security, availability and monitoring aspects of the platform to RIL and its customers. The potential for other revenue streams includes telecom, healthcare and agriculture.  

The benefits to customers include driving operational efficiencies, profitability and new revenue streams by making use of data and analytics. A one per cent productivity gain for companies creates ~ USD 250 billion value over 15 years, across these key energy and infrastructure industries. The digital market is growing at a fast pace with IIOT contributing the highest degree of growth at over 10 per cent. According to Gartner, there exists a market opportunity of over USD 25 billion by 2022 for IIoT solutions across the four key industries of oil & gas, power, healthcare and transportation. 

  

“India’s potential in driving the migration to digital is well appreciated. The partnership with Reliance Industries will shape the future of the Industrial Internet not just in India but globally. The possibilities that it opens to develop solutions on our Predix platform for the industrial sector are endless,” said Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE. 

“India needs to rapidly move to the next level of smart manufacturing which leverages big data, algorithms, and sensor technology. The presence of ubiquitous high bandwidth connectivity and cloud services enabled by Jio will be a key enabler for the rapid growth of IIOT within India. Indians have been in the forefront of creating smart and innovative solutions in a number of fields. It’s time we brought smart manufacturing capability into India by providing value added IIOT solutions for the industry that will enable India’s economic growth,” said Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Ltd. 

Digital solutions have the potential to save billions of dollars each year. Use of data as the fuel and analytics as the growth engine promises to drive disruptive and positive changes across the industrial landscape.  

Predix, the operating system for the Industrial Internet, is powering digital industrial businesses that drive the global economy. By connecting industrial equipment, analyzing data, and delivering real-time insights, Predix-based apps are unleashing new levels of performance of both GE and non-GE assets. For more, please visit www.ge.com/digital/predix  

About Reliance Industries Limited (RIL):  

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is India’s largest private sector company, with a consolidated turnover of INR 296,091 crore (US$ 44.7 billion), cash profit of INR 40,737 crore (US$ 6.1 billion) and net profit of INR 27,630 crore (US$ 4.2 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2016.  

RIL is the first private sector company from India to feature in Fortune’s Global 500 list of ‘World’s Largest Corporations’, currently ranking 215th in terms of revenues and 126th in terms of profits. RIL ranks 238th in the Financial Times’ FT Global 500 list (2015) of the world’s largest companies. RIL ranks 121st on the Forbes Global 2000 list (2016), continuing to be the top-ranked Indian company. RIL's activities span hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals, retail and telecommunications.  

About GE:  

GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with softwaredefined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry.

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CM Chandra Babu Naidu Launches ‘JioNet’ High Speed Wi-Fi in SVU Campus

Tirupati, 2nd October 2016: Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), today launched ‘JioNet’ High Speed Wi-Fi service in Sri Venkateshwara University (SVU) campus located in the Temple City of Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.

 AP CM interacting with his old friends via Video Conference using JIONET

 AP CM interacting with old friends using JIONET

 CM inaugurating jionet at SVU Tirupathi

This service was formally launched by Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Shri N Chandrababu Naidu at a public event organised in SVU campus. Using JioNet, CM connected with University Vice chancellor Shri Avula Damodaram and Registrar Shri M Devarajulu through Video Call. He also interacted with his friends S/Shri P.Subramanium Naidu, Subba Rayudu, Padmanabha Naidu, Subba Rao, Narayanappa Naidu, Koteswara Rao, R.Anand, P.S.Mururatnam and Gurumurthy who accompanied VC and Registrar.

About Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited:
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (“Jio”), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (“RIL”), has built a world-class all-IP data strong future proof network with latest 4G LTE technology. It is the only network conceived and born as a Mobile Video Network from the ground up and supporting Voice over LTE technology. It is future ready and can be easily upgraded to support even more data, as technologies advance on to 5G, 6G and beyond.

Jio will bring transformational changes in the Indian digital services space to enable the vision of Digital India for 1.2 billion Indians and propel India into global leadership in digital economy. It has created an eco-system comprising network, devices, applications and content, service experience and affordable tariffs for everyone to live the Jio Digital Life. As part of its customer offers, Jio has revolutionised the Indian telecom landscape by making voice calls for Jio customers absolutely free, across India, to any network, and always. Jio makes India the highest quality, most affordable data market in the world so that every Indian can do Datagiri.

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Jio Associates with TEDxHyderabad As Digital Connectivity Partner

Hyderabad, September 22, 2016 – Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), is proud to be associated with TEDxHyderabad as its Digital Connectivity Partner. Independently organized and licensed by TED, the daylong TEDxHyderabad 2016 event to be held on September 25 at Sandhya Convention Center in Gachibowli. As Digital Connectivity Partner, Reliance Jio will be providing JioNet high speed internet service at the venue.

The theme of this year’s TEDxHyderabad is “Crafting our future”. There will be 13 extraordinary innovators, thinkers, and speakers to present their inspiring talks and ideas to wow 1,500 attendees, coming from different parts of the city. The audience will also listen to incredible TED talks from TED.com and watch some brilliant performances by renowned performers.

Besides the Hon’ble Minister for IT, Gov’t of Telangana, Kalvakunta Taraka Rama Rao, the high profile speakers at the event include documentary filmmaker Saeed Taji Farouky;  virtuoso pianist Timothy Birendra Marthand; blade runner Kiran Kanojia; marine biologist, Asha De Vos; emergency response specialist, Dr. G.V. Ramana Rao; traditional weaver and inventor Chintikindi Mallesham; mountaineer Jaahnavi Sriperambuduru; visionary entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla; number maestro Sanjay Jain; web master Jasminder Singh Gulati; Bitcoin prodigy Rajesh Dhuddu and shooting alchemist, Gagan Narang. Each of these speakers will present their ideas for a maximum of 18 minutes. 

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RJIL issues INR 2,000 crore 5-year NCDs

Mumbai, July 7, 2016: Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), today issued INR 2,000 crore of 5 year Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs), bearing a coupon of 8.32% per annum, payable annually. The issue has been assigned a rating of AAA by CRISIL and ICRA. The proceeds of the issuance shall be utilized by RJIL for rolling out a state-of-the-art digital services business in India.    RJIL is the first issuer outside the financial services industry in India, to raise funds digitally through the EBP route. This is also the largest debt issuance in the Indian market by any issuer since the electronic bidding platform has been mandated by SEBI for private placement of debt, effective 1st July this year.   The transaction was fully subscribed within minutes of opening and was eventually over-subscribed with a total book size in excess of INR 3500 crores, Reliance Jio said. Key investors include the prominent asset management companies and banks.   “We are overwhelmed by the response that we have received for our maiden issuance on the BSE-BOND platform. It reinforces the faith investors have in our next generation digital services business. The launch of the EBP platform is a significant step towards the development of market infrastructure for Indian Corporate Bond market. It will make the debt issuance process significantly more smooth and transparent for issuers as well as investors” said Soumyo Dutta, Treasurer, Reliance Industries Limited.    

    

About Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited: Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), India’s largest private sector company, is the first telecom operator to hold pan India Unified License.  

RJIL is setting up an entire digital ecosystem with stated goal to break the digital divide between ‘India’ and ‘Bharat’ and propel India into global leadership in digital economy. The ecosystem consists of pan-India high speed data network, specially designed devices to run on this network, a wide variety of applications and services -- from news, entertainment, payment, business, healthcare and education – and rich content.  

RJIL has created a legacy free, next-generation voice and broadband network which can be seamlessly upgraded even to 5G and beyond. It will be the only company in the world providing next generation digital services over an end-to-end all-IP network at this scale.  

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RIL AND SBI EXECUTE THE SUBSCRIPTION AND SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT FOR SETTING UP PAYMENTS BANK

Mumbai, July 1, 2016: 

The Subscription and Shareholders' Agreement was signed by RIL as promoter with a 70% equity contribution and SBI as Joint Venture partner with a 30% equity contribution on June 30, 2016. 

RIL and SBI in-principle agreed to partner and explore the opportunity of fulfilling the needs of the unbanked and under-banked segments by providing relevant financial services products. To that effect, RIL and SBI had entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding in February 2015 to set out the principal terms. 

RBI granted an 'in-principle' approval to RIL as a promoter in September 2015 for the setting up of a Payments Bank pursuant to the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and as per the Guidelines for Licensing of "Payments Banks" dated 27 November 2014. 

By combining RIL's technology, last mile reach and distribution through RIL's Telecom & Retail initiatives and SBI's banking expertise in offering financial services to millions of retail consumers and small enterprises across the country, the Payments Bank will work towards digitising payments and promoting digital savings and investment products thereby acting as a catalyst in creating a cash-less society. 

All requisite Regulatory and Statutory approvals will now be sought for operationalizing the Payments Bank. 

About RIL 

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is India's largest private sector company, with a consolidated turnover of INR 296,091 crore (US$ 44.7 billion), cash profit of INR 40,737 crore (US$ 6.1 billion) and net profit of INR 27,630 crore (US$ 4.2 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2016. 

RIL is the first private sector company from India to feature in Fortune's Global 500 list of World's Largest Corporations', currently ranking 158th In terms of revenues and 142nd in terms of profits. RIL ranks 238th in the Financial Times' FT Global 500 2015 list of the world's largest companies. RIL's activities span hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals, retail and telecommunications. 

About SBI 

SBI is India's largest bank, with 16,784 branches in India, 198 international offices in 37 countries and approx. 301 million active customer accounts as of Mar 31, 2016. It is also the only Indian bank listed in the Fortune 500. The Bank had deposits, net advances and Annexure 1 total assets base of Rs 17,30,722 crores, Rs 14,63,700 crores and Rs 22,59,063 crores, respectively, as of Mar 31, 2016, the largest by each measure among banking institutions in India. 

In order to expand its distribution network, SBI has tied up with over 64,628 Customer Service Points all over the country. 

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RIL-IIP Joint Technology Development Benzene Extraction from FCC Light Naphtha

Concept to Implementation

  

RIL Jamnagar Refinery has 2 of the world’s largest Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC) units. The light naphtha produced from these units is the major contributor of Benzene in the gasoline pool. Due to health and environmental concerns, there has been an increasing pressure on refiners around the world to reduce the amount of Benzene and other hazardous air pollutants in the gasoline pool. In 2011, under Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) gasoline fuel program, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in USA required refiners to meet an annual average gasoline benzene content standard of 0.62 volume percent (vol.-%) for all of their gasoline, both reformulated and conventional, nationwide. It was evident that, in the near future, Europe and the rest of the world will also impose lower limits on Benzene content in the gasoline.  

In 2011, RIL started to evaluate available technologies to remove Benzene from FCC Light naphtha. All available and the claimed proven technologies at that time had the following disadvantages:  

 Higher capital and operating expenditures  Loss of value due to significantly lower Benzene recovery  Loss of octane barrel due to loss of high-octane olefinic compounds 

    

     Also available extractive distillation technology that used solvent to extracts Benzene from FCC light naphtha was not proven commercially. It is very challenging to extract Benzene from light naphtha using solvent because of its rapid degradation by polymerization in the presence of reactive species such as olefins and di-olefins, and contaminants such as sulphur, nitrogen, chlorides, oxygenates, etc. 

   

In 2011, RIL and Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) Dehradun signed an agreement to codevelop an extractive distillation process using a robust solvent that will not degrade appreciably in the presence of difficult species and contaminants, and meet the following targets  

 0.2 vol.-% Benzene or less in raffinate (reurn stream to gasoline)  99 vol.-% or higher Benzene recovery (extracted and upgraded to cyclohexane grade benzene)  

It was understood that robust and selective solvent will improve unit operation and performance resulting in higher reliability and availability of the unit.    

This partnership had a synergy due to the following:  

 IIP Strengths: 

Strong understanding of solvents chemistry  Very Good understanding of liquid-liquid extraction and extractive distillation processes  Excellent laboratory and pilot plant facilities  

RIL Strengths:  

 Technical leadership and “can do attitude”  Strong operations experience of large size extractive distillation units  Strong project implementation capabilities  Ensured “freedom to operate” by generating strong IP portfolio and restricting claims of competitors by challenging their Indian patents  

Process Development Steps 

1. Proof of Concept (Chemistry and Separation) demonstration at lab scale 2. Pilot Plant Studies & Scale-Up 3. Process Design Optimization 4. Development of Technical Information Package  

RIL-IIP Team did several experiments in the laboratory and pilot plants, and established that selected solvent is robust and meets the required performance criteria. Based on pilot plant data, process scale-up and process design optimization was done. All this data and work was used to develop Technical Information Package (TIP) containing the following documents:  

 Simplified Process Flow Diagram   Heat and Mass Balance  Preliminary Data Sheets for 

Critical Equipment  

RIL-IIP filed joint patent for the process to create strong Intellectual Property (IP) and “freedom to operate” assurance.  

TIP was handed-over to Technip, who was selected as Detailed Engineering Contractor (DEC) for this new process named Benzene Recovery Unit (BRU).   

RIL did the construction and the “flawless” commissioning of BRU. On 23rd May-2016, the on-specification raffinate product (less than 0.2 vol.-% Benzene) was sent to storage for blending and sales.     

RIL & IIP has joined the league of technology developers and there are many enquiries for licensing the technology.  

Exceptional example of “Make-In-India” Initiative by “Inventing-in-India.”  

India’s resurgence has begun……………. 

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