THE FACILITY

The America First Refining complex is being constructed within the Port of Brownsville—a deep-water port, foreign trade zone, and key hub for transportation and industrial growth at Texas’s southernmost point. Working alongside the Port of Brownsville and local entities, the America First Refining complex will serve as a model for the future of American energy.

BROWNSVILLE: AN EMERGING ECONOMIC
ENGINE POWERED BY A DEEPWATER PORT

The Port of Brownsville is the only deepwater seaport located directly on the U.S.-Mexico border and operates as a Free Trade Zone. Spanning 40,000 acres, it’s the largest land-owning public port authority in the United States.

The port leads the nation in steel shipments to Mexico and is a key hub for energy, shipbuilding, and ship recycling. It is globally recognized as the top U.S. port for ship recycling and hosts the country’s largest fabricator of offshore drilling platforms. Recently, the Port has become home to LNG export facilities and other energy infrastructure projects.

Historically considered an economically distressed area, Brownsville is being transformed by technologically innovative energy companies that are fostering local and regional economic growth while promoting social equity. Element Fuels’ facility will further boost Brownsville with approximately 2,000 construction jobs, more than 300 initial full-time facility operation jobs with above market wages, additional property tax revenue, and more.

PORT OF
BROWNSVILLE:
THE PORT
THAT WORKS

The Port of Brownsville serves as a key hub for the movement of bulk petroleum, refined products, natural gas liquids, and other specialized bulk liquids between Mexico and various supply ports. Its 17-mile ship channel, featuring a turning basin that accommodates vessels over 1,200 feet long, supports access for Suezmax-class liquid cargo ships.

America First Refining’s complex is being developed on more than 240 acres within the Port. With six liquid cargo docks, 13 general cargo docks, direct rail connections, specialized road access, and significantly shorter vessel wait times compared to other major Texas ports, the Port of Brownsville offers an ideal location for efficient transportation of America First Refining’s products.

Refining. Redefined.™

American Fuels from American Shale for America's Energy Future

Albert Johnson

EVP – Commercial Development

Albert is responsible for driving strategic business development efforts and asset management activities related to Element Fuel’s operations in the Permian Basin and Gulf Coast.

Formerly, he was the Vice President of Business Development for Navigator Energy Services.  In this role, Albert was instrumental in developing the Navigator crude oil gathering system in the Permian Basin, which was sold to NuStar Energy in 2017 for $1.5 billion.

Prior to joining Navigator, he was the Director of Business Development for Sunoco Logistics Partners LP, where he led contract negotiations that resulted in pipeline and terminal projects totaling more than $3 billion. He also served on the Board of Directors of West Texas Gulf Pipeline Company and the management committee for SunVit Pipeline LLC. 

Albert holds a B.A. degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin and a M.B.A. degree with a focus on finance from the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University.