Trump Announces First New US Oil Refinery in 50 Years Planned for Texas

The America First Refining project at Port of Brownsville aims to convert U.S. shale oil into gasoline and diesel for domestic markets.

President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Trump National Doral in Miami, Fla., on March 9, 2026. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that a new oil refinery in Brownsville, Texas, will be the first major new U.S. refinery of its type in approximately five decades.

Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, noting the project by America First Refining would represent a key step for the renewal of domestic energy production and economic development.

“America is returning to real energy dominance!” Trump wrote partly in capitalized letters. “Today I am proud to announce that America First Refining is opening the first new U.S. Oil Refinery in 50 years in Brownsville, Texas.”

Trump called it a historic $300 billion deal and thanked partners in India, Reliance Energy Company, the South Asian country’s largest private corporation and operator of the world’s largest refinery, for their investment.

“It is because of our America First Agenda, streamlining Permits, and lowering Taxes, that have attracted Billions of Dollars in Deals coming back to our Nation,” he wrote. “A new Refinery at the Port of Brownsville, will fuel U.S. Markets, strengthen our National Security, boost American Energy production, deliver Billions of Dollars in Economic impact, and will be the cleanest refinery in the world.”

America First Refining is the Texas-based company developing the new oil refinery, which is backed by Reliance’s $300 billion investment. The deal includes a 20-year offtake agreement and plans to process up to 160,000 barrels per day of U.S. shale oil using hydrogen-powered, low-emission tech.

The facility will be built to process large volumes of light crude oil produced in the United States, converting it into refined fuels like gasoline and diesel.

According to America First Refining, the facility will process shale oil that is typically exported due to limited domestic refining capacity. The company said the project aims to redirect millions of barrels of American crude oil every year into domestic refining and fuel production.

The refinery is being built within the Port of Brownsville complex, a deepwater port on the U.S.–Mexico border and a central hub for shipping and industrial activity in South Texas.

Company officials say the refinery could bring considerable economic benefits to the region, including construction jobs and long-term employment once the facility goes live.

The proposed Brownsville refinery will also focus on producing fuels with lower carbon intensity using newer technologies, such as hydrogen-powered processes designed to reduce emissions associated with refining operations. An estimate for when the refinery would go operational were not provided.

Texas remains a key hub for the U.S. oil and gas industry, producing more crude oil and natural gas than any other state and home to the nation’s largest concentration of refining capacity.