Fluor To Engineer, Design Large-Scale Refinery in Texas

By Simon West

Fluor has won a deal to engineer and design the America First Refining facility in Brownsville, Texas, the first new refinery to be constructed in the U.S. in more than 50 years.

The value of the front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract was not disclosed.

AFR’s refinery is being built on a 240-acre plot within the Port of Brownsville on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The facility will turn U.S. light shale oil into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, with processing capacity expected to top 60 million barrels a year, Fluor said.

“Together, AFR and Fluor bring deep technical expertise and proven project‑delivery capabilities, positioning the project for successful execution,” said Pierre Bechelany, business group president of Fluor’s Energy Solutions division.

In related news, Fluor has struck an agreement with X-energy to support the company’s proposed advanced nuclear project at Dow’s Seadrift plastics and chemicals facility in Texas.

The X-energy project plans four 80-MW small modular reactors (SMRs) to power the Seadrift site with carbon-free electricity and steam in what is slated as North America’s first grid-scale advanced nuclear project at an industrial facility.

Fluor will initially deliver front-end loading stage 2 (FEL-2) services.

“With eight decades of nuclear experience, Fluor brings the proven expertise and disciplined execution required to help advance this landmark project,” Bechelany said.

The Port of Brownsville will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Americas 2026. Fluor and Dow are members of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network.

Photo: An artist’s rendering of the AFR complex in Brownsville. Credit: Fluor