Overview
- President Trump announced that America First Refining plans to build a refinery at the Port of Brownsville, presented as the first new major U.S. plant in roughly five decades.
- News outlets link the project to Element Fuels’ earlier Brownsville effort, which secured permits and cited capacity around 160,000 barrels per day.
- Trump called it a “$300 billion” deal and the biggest in U.S. history, while reporting indicates the figure reflects projected product values over the facility’s life rather than disclosed construction costs.
- America First Refining previously said it received a nine-figure investment from an unnamed global supermajor and signed a binding 20-year offtake agreement without identifying the partner.
- Coverage notes varying technical details (about 160,000–168,000 barrels per day and lifetime throughput claims) and reports a potential Q2 2026 groundbreaking, as analysts point to high costs, permitting hurdles and market uncertainties.