America First Refining plans new Texas refinery, first in nearly 50 years
America First Refining (AFR) plans to build the first new U.S. oil refinery in nearly half a century at the Port of Brownsville in South Texas, according to reporting by Fox Business.
President Donald Trump announced the project Tuesday, describing it as part of a broader push to expand domestic energy production and strengthen U.S. energy security. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the development a “historic $300 billion deal” that would support American workers and boost energy exports.
The refinery will be located in a deep-water foreign trade zone at the Port of Brownsville, allowing rail and marine access for domestic distribution and international exports. AFR said the facility is designed to process 100% U.S. light shale oil—approximately 47° API—addressing a gap between the country’s growing light crude supply and limited refining capacity configured for it.
Under the project framework, AFR expects to process about 1.2 billion barrels of U.S. shale oil over time, producing an estimated 50 billion gallons of refined products. The refinery will have the capacity to process about 60 million barrels per year of domestic crude, according to the company.
AFR said the project has secured international investment, including participation from India-based Reliance, and has signed a binding 20-year offtake term sheet with a global supermajor. The company expects to break ground in the second quarter of 2026.
The refinery is expected to create thousands of construction and permanent jobs in South Texas and produce gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. AFR also said the facility is designed to be among the lowest-emissions refineries operating at scale in the U.S.
Company executives say the project aims to strengthen domestic refining capacity while reducing reliance on imported crude. AFR chairman and founder John V. Calce said the development represents a major step toward refining more U.S. shale oil domestically rather than exporting it abroad.
AFR’s leadership team includes executives with experience at companies such as BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, Vitol and Sunoco Logistics, while its advisory board includes former leaders from firms including CVR Energy and Royal Dutch Shell.
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