MUMBAI: Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance conglomerate has bought Norway-based REC Solar from China National Bluestar for $771 million, the company said on Sunday as it aggressively expands into the green energy sector.
The oil-to-telecom giant pledged in June to invest $10 billion in renewable energy over the next three years — one of several big firms moving into the industry as the South Asian giant pushes to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The Mumbai-headquartered firm said the purchase would open up opportunities in key green energy markets such as the US, Europe, Australia and Asia.
“It (buying REC Solar) will enable India to become a world leader in green energy transition to overcome the climate crisis,” Ambani said in a statement.
Ambani added that Reliance hopes to generate 100 GW of renewable energy by the end of the decade — nearly a quarter of the 450GW target set by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
REC, a solar panel manufacturer, has its headquarters in Norway and runs its operations from Singapore, with regional hubs in North America, Europe, Australia, and the Asia-Pacific region.
China National Bluestar is majority-owned by state-run China National Chemical Corp.