President Donald Trump announced plans on Tuesday for a new oil refinery in Brownsville, Texas, calling it a cornerstone of his “America First” energy agenda, Newsweek reports. The project, involving Indian energy giant Reliance, marks what Trump described as “the cleanest refinery in the world” and “a $300 billion deal” aimed at fueling U.S. markets and bolstering energy independence.
The White House said it secured a 20‑year offtake agreement and funding for what would be the first new U.S. refinery in nearly 50 years. Construction is set to begin at the Port of Brownsville in mid‑2026.
America First Refining said it received a nine‑figure investment from a global “supermajor” energy company, though it did not publicly name the partner. The refinery will focus on processing American shale oil, addressing a shortage of domestic capacity optimized for lighter crude.
Company chairman John V. Calce called the refinery “a historic step for U.S. energy,” crediting Trump’s leadership for advancing an energy policy that “creates thousands of jobs and keeps refining at home.”
“This project represents a historic step forward for American energy production,” Calce said. “For the first time in half a century, the United States will build a new refinery designed specifically for American shale oil. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the resurgence of an America First energy policy, we are creating thousands of high-quality jobs while ensuring more of our nation’s energy resources are refined here at home in the cleanest, most efficient refinery on the planet.”
President of America First Refining Trey Griggs added that the project “unlocks a major expansion of American production” by converting the nation’s shale surplus into refined fuel.
“This is one of the most important energy infrastructure projects in America today,” Griggs said. “The United States has a surplus of light shale oil but a shortage of refining capacity designed to process it. By building this refinery at the Port of Brownsville, we’re unlocking a major expansion of American energy production while creating thousands of high-paying jobs and strengthening our domestic supply chain.”
Trump has claimed that increasing U.S. refining and production capacity, including projects like the proposed Brownsville facility, could shield American consumers from the effects of foreign conflicts.