Here’s Trump’s new plan.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that a major new oil refinery project is coming to Brownsville, Texas, marking the first time in nearly 50 years that a brand-new refinery will be built in the United States.
The project, led by America First Refining (AFR), is expected to significantly expand American energy production, create thousands of jobs, and strengthen the nation’s push toward energy independence.
According to officials involved in the project, the refinery will be located inside a large deep-water foreign trade zone near the Port of Brownsville, giving the facility direct access to rail lines and international shipping routes.
Trump celebrated the announcement in a post on Truth Social.
Trump wrote that the United States is moving back toward what he called “true energy dominance,” describing the $300 billion investment as the largest deal of its kind in American history and a major victory for U.S. workers, the nation’s energy industry, and residents of South Texas.
Thousands of New American Jobs
AFR officials say the refinery will create thousands of construction jobs during the building phase, along with long-term permanent positions once the facility becomes operational.
The company says wages are expected to exceed average industry pay levels, providing a major economic boost to South Texas.
The project also includes significant international investment. Trump highlighted a major financial commitment from India and Reliance Industries, the country’s largest privately held energy company.
In addition, AFR has secured a binding 20-year agreement with a major global energy company to purchase refined fuel produced at the facility.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
Designed to Process American Oil
One of the refinery’s biggest advantages is that it will be specifically engineered to process American light shale oil, a type of crude that is cleaner and easier to refine than heavier imported oil.
Many existing U.S. refineries were originally designed decades ago to process foreign heavy crude, meaning the U.S. still imports large volumes of oil despite producing record amounts domestically.
The AFR refinery aims to change that.
Key capabilities of the project include:
- Processing 60 million barrels of American shale oil each year
- Producing large volumes of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel
- Exporting refined fuel to global markets through a deep-water port
- Utilizing modern refining technology to produce some of the cleanest fuels in the world
Supporters say the facility will help strengthen U.S. national security by reducing dependence on foreign energy sources.
A $300 Billion Economic Impact
Under the current agreement, AFR estimates that the refinery will process 1.2 billion barrels of American oil, valued at approximately $125 billion.
The refinery is expected to produce roughly 50 billion gallons of refined fuel, worth an estimated $175 billion.
Combined, those numbers could improve the U.S. trade balance by $300 billion, according to company projections.
Industry experts point out that from 2014 through 2024, the United States shipped nearly 10 billion barrels of crude oil overseas while still bringing in roughly 28 billion barrels of oil from other countries.
That imbalance cost the U.S. economy more than $1.8 trillion.
Once the new refinery becomes operational, up to 60 million barrels of American oil per year could be redirected into domestic refining instead of relying on overseas facilities.
Local Workforce Development
AFR says the project will also invest heavily in the local community.
Plans include apprenticeship programs, job training initiatives, and partnerships with educational institutions in South Texas to prepare the next generation of skilled workers in the energy sector.
Supporters say the refinery could transform the regional economy while creating stable, high-paying careers for American workers.
Experienced Leadership Behind the Project
The AFR executive team brings more than 100 years of combined experience in the global refining and chemical industries.
Executives involved in the project have overseen nearly $40 billion in large-scale energy infrastructure developments.
AFR Chairman and Founder John V. Calce said the refinery represents a historic milestone for American energy.
“For the first time in half a century, the United States will build a refinery specifically designed for American shale oil,” Calce said. “With President Trump’s America First energy policies, we’re creating thousands of high-quality jobs and ensuring more of our nation’s energy is refined here at home.”
CEO Trey Griggs, who previously held senior leadership roles at Calpine and Goldman Sachs, said the United States currently produces abundant shale oil but lacks sufficient refining capacity.
“By building this refinery at the Port of Brownsville, we are unlocking a major expansion of American energy production while creating thousands of high-paying jobs and strengthening our domestic supply chain,” Griggs said.
Additional executives involved in the project have held leadership positions at major energy companies including BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, Vitol, and Sunoco Logistics Partners.
A Major Step Toward Energy Dominance
Supporters say the new refinery could become one of the most important American energy infrastructure projects in decades.
If construction moves forward as planned, the facility will help expand U.S. refining capacity, increase domestic fuel production, and reduce reliance on foreign oil.
For many energy analysts, the project signals a renewed push toward American energy dominance — a key pillar of the Trump administration’s economic and national security strategy.
