Fluor Corporation has been awarded the front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for America First Refining’s new facility at the Port of Brownsville, Texas — the first refinery to be built in the United States in more than 50 years. Fluor will recognise the undisclosed contract value in Q1 2026.
Fluor America First Refining Brownsville: What the FEED Contract Covers
The America First Refining (AFR) facility will use commercially proven technology to process US shale crude into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Upon completion, the plant is expected to handle more than 60 million barrels per year of domestically produced crude — a scale that positions it as one of the most significant downstream capital projects in North America in decades.
Fluor’s scope covers FEED execution, with groundbreaking scheduled for Q2 2026. Financial terms of the contract have not been disclosed. Pierre Bechelany, Fluor’s business group president for energy solutions, confirmed the award, describing the project as a landmark for US refining infrastructure and citing the combined technical credentials of both companies as central to delivery confidence.
The Port of Brownsville site carries an Economic Opportunity Zone designation, which is expected to generate employment and draw secondary investment across South Texas. The broader project structure includes a 20-year offtake agreement with an undisclosed global supermajor — described by AFR as the largest energy deal in the United States — alongside a nine-figure capital commitment from the same counterparty.
First New US Refinery in Over Five Decades
The significance of the Fluor America First Refining Brownsville project lies in the structural gap it addresses. Between 2014 and 2024, the United States exported approximately 9.8 billion barrels of crude while importing around 28 billion barrels — an imbalance estimated to have cost consumers more than $1.8 trillion over the decade. The AFR facility is positioned as a direct response to that deficit, targeting a reduction in the US trade imbalance of approximately $300 billion once operational.
The project aligns with the Trump administration’s domestic energy agenda and represents a departure from the post-1970s pattern in which no new full-scale greenfield refinery has been commissioned on US soil. Existing US refining capacity has been expanded incrementally, but the last comparably scaled facility was built before the 1973 oil crisis.
For Fluor Corporation, the Brownsville award follows a period of contract momentum across its energy solutions segment. The company reported a $25.5 billion backlog entering 2026, and the AFR FEED win adds a marquee downstream project to its North American pipeline portfolio.
Downstream Construction Context: FEED to Full Execution
FEED contracts of this nature typically precede a full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) or EPCM award from the same client, though AFR has not confirmed Fluor’s role beyond the current FEED scope. The contractor selection follows AFR’s announcement in March 2026 that the Brownsville project would proceed, which itself generated significant coverage given the rarity of greenfield refinery development in the US regulatory and capital environment.
The facility’s fuel output — gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from domestic shale crude — targets both the domestic market and export channels via the Port of Brownsville’s existing marine infrastructure. The port’s position on the Gulf of Mexico provides direct access to international shipping lanes, making it a logical site for a project with the scale and offtake structure that AFR has assembled.
OGSN tracks major downstream and EPC activity across North America. The Fluor America First Refining Brownsville contract is among the highest-profile single awards in the downstream sector so far in 2026. For context on the wider competitive landscape, see our overview of the top downstream oil and gas companies currently active in the US market.
America First Refining has indicated further project details will be released ahead of the Q2 2026 groundbreaking. Full project information is available at fluor.com.
What is the Fluor America First Refining Brownsville contract?
Fluor Corporation has been selected to execute the front-end engineering and design (FEED) for America First Refining’s new refinery in Brownsville, Texas. The contract value is undisclosed. Fluor recognised the value in Q1 2026, with groundbreaking scheduled for Q2 2026.
Why is the America First Refining facility significant?
It will be the first new refinery built in the United States in more than 50 years. Once operational, the facility is expected to process over 60 million barrels of domestic shale crude annually into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
Where is the America First Refining refinery located?
The facility is sited at the Port of Brownsville in South Texas. The port holds an Economic Opportunity Zone designation and provides direct marine access to international shipping lanes via the Gulf of Mexico.
What is the financial scale of the America First Refining project?
The project includes a nine-figure capital commitment and a 20-year offtake agreement with an undisclosed global supermajor, described by AFR as the largest energy deal in the US. The facility is expected to reduce the US trade deficit by approximately $300 billion once at full capacity.
What other major EPC contracts has Fluor won in North America?
Fluor entered 2026 with a $25.5 billion backlog across its global portfolio. The company is active across LNG, refining, and petrochemical EPC segments in North America. The Brownsville FEED award is among its most prominent single downstream contract wins of the year.