Reliance Industries Ltd cuts US lobbying spend to record low

WASHINGTON |NEW DELHI: Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries has surprisingly cut down its expenses for lobbying among US lawmakers to a record low level. Through its lobbyist Barbour Griffith & Rogers LLC (BGR), RIL spent $1,20,000 (about Rs 54 lakh) on lobbying in the US during the first quarter of 2011, according to the latest lobbying disclosure documents filed with the Senate.

Prior to this, RIL had been spending $190,000 on lobbying with the US lawmakers during the every quarter ever since the first quarter of 2009. RIL has been expanding its US presence through shale gas asset purchases for its core energy business in recent months.

The disclosure comes at a time when RIL is facing possible sanctions by the Barack Obama administration for its business ties with Iran.