Reliance Industries Denies Claims of Pausing Battery Manufacturing Plans
Reliance Industries has denied reports that it paused its lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing plans in India. The denial follows a Bloomberg report citing failed negotiations with a Chinese partner due to export controls.
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Reliance Industries Limited has publicly refuted a report by Bloomberg News that suggested the company had halted its plans to produce lithium-ion battery cells in India. The report, released on January 12, 2026, claimed that the pause was due to unsuccessful negotiations with the Chinese firm, Xiamen Hithium Energy Storage Technology, over technology licensing. However, Reliance Industries has affirmed that its battery storage manufacturing ecosystem plans remain on track.
The Bloomberg report indicated that talks with Xiamen Hithium stalled after the Chinese partner withdrew from the proposed partnership. The withdrawal was attributed to China's export controls on battery technology, which were announced in October 2025. These controls require exporters to obtain permits for overseas technology transfers, a move seen as part of China's broader strategy to tighten its grip on critical energy storage and electric vehicle technology.
