Axens, a global leader in refining and petrochemical technologies, has been tapped by America First Refining (AFR) to serve as the technology licensor for a major new refining facility at the Port of Brownsville, Texas. The project marks the first new refinery built in the United States in more than half a century.

 

Under the agreement, Axens will supply its cutting-edge refining technologies to drive the design and operation of the plant, including critical systems aimed at boosting performance and lowering energy use.

 

Axens has been involved with the project since 2017, collaborating closely with AFR entities to advance the development of a next-generation, purpose-built American energy facility.

 

The AFR refinery will utilize commercially proven technologies to efficiently convert American shale oil into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Once operational, it is expected to process more than 60 million barrels per year of domestic crude, strengthening U.S. energy resilience and modernizing refining infrastructure.

 

"We’re proud to be selected by America First Refining for this strategic project—one of the rare new refinery developments in the United States,” said Tina Craft, Chief Executive Officer of Axens Americas. 

 

“With Axens technologies for naphtha and diesel hydrotreating, continuous catalytic reforming and isomerization, AFR will have a robust platform to produce high quality clean fuels with strong long‑term performance. This selection underscores customers’ confidence in Axens’ end to end offer, from licensing to engineering, equipment, catalysts and services.”

 

The facility is engineered to handle 100% American light shale oil, aligning US refining capacity with today’s production trends. Strategically located at a deep-water port with access to global markets, the refinery aims to produce some of the cleanest fuels refined at scale in the country while reinforcing domestic supply chains.