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Weekend Unwind with Promodome Group’s Sandiip Kapur
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind – a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of business executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session, we have Promodome Group founder & president Sandiip Kapur.
Without further ado, here it goes…
Your mantra for life
Keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. Hard work and perseverance always pay off.
A book you are currently reading or plan to read
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries – it’s a great guide for innovation and staying agile in the fast-paced world of business.
Your fitness mantra
Consistency over intensity. A little progress every day adds up to big results.
Your comfort food
A simple plate of sambhar rice. It reminds me of home and keeps me grounded.
A quote or philosophy that keeps you going when the chips are down
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill
Your guilty pleasure
Binge-watching motivational documentaries late at night, even when I should be sleeping.
The last time you tried something new
I recently took up meditation to help calm my mind and manage stress better.
A life lesson you learned the hard way:
You can’t control everything. Sometimes, you just have to let go and trust the process.
What gets you excited about life?
The endless possibilities that each new day brings and the chance to create something meaningful.
What’s on top of your bucket list?
To see my agency recognised as one of the top media buying powerhouses in India.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Stay patient, keep learning, and don’t let anxiety control you. Good things take time.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
I wish there was more empathy and understanding among people. A little kindness can go a long way.
An activity that keeps you motivated and charged during tough times
Running in the early mornings. It helps clear my mind and sets the tone for the day
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Spending time with my family-they are my biggest support system.
Your go-to stress buster
Listening to music while sipping on a hot cup of green tea.
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Trump announces $300bn Texas oil refinery with Reliance, calls it the biggest in US history
First new US refinery in 50 years planned at Brownsville port with Reliance
WASHINGTON: The United States may soon see the first brand-new oil refinery built on its soil in half a century.
Donald Trump announced a proposed $300 billion refinery project in Texas, calling it a landmark moment for American energy production and jobs.
Posting on Truth Social on 10 March, Trump said the facility would be built at the Port of Brownsville and developed by a company called America First Refining, with major investment from India’s Reliance Industries.
The announcement frames the project as a centrepiece of the administration’s push for “energy dominance”, with Trump claiming it would deliver thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity to South Texas.
If realised, the plant would mark the first all-new major refinery constructed in the United States since the 1970s. In recent decades, oil companies have largely chosen to expand existing facilities rather than build new ones, citing high costs, regulatory hurdles and environmental scrutiny.
Trump described the proposed investment as the “biggest in US history”, positioning it as proof that policy changes such as streamlined permits and lower taxes are drawing large-scale energy investments back into the country.
The refinery is planned for the Port of Brownsville, a strategic Gulf Coast location that provides easy access to shipping routes and export markets.
A key partner in the project is Reliance Industries, controlled by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The company already runs the world’s largest refining complex in Jamnagar, India, making it one of the most experienced operators in large-scale petroleum processing.
The Texas venture would mark a significant step for the group into America’s domestic refining sector, potentially strengthening industrial ties between the US and India.
The proposed refinery is being promoted as a next-generation facility capable of processing American shale oil while maintaining high environmental standards. Trump said it would be “the cleanest refinery in the world”, although the specific technologies behind that claim have not yet been detailed.
Industry observers also note that the $300 billion figure is unusually large for a refinery project, and analysts are waiting for more clarity on whether the number reflects total construction costs, long-term infrastructure investment, or broader economic impact estimates.
As of 11 March, Reliance Industries had not publicly confirmed the investment size or the structure of its involvement.
For now, the announcement has sparked equal parts excitement and curiosity in energy markets. If the plan moves from promise to pouring concrete, the refinery could reshape the Gulf Coast energy landscape, and reopen a chapter in American refining that has been quiet for nearly fifty years.
