San Patricio County, TX — A major refinery project is being planned on farmland near Taft, where a longtime cotton farmer is preparing to sell part of his property for what developers say could become one of the first significant new U.S. oil refineries built in decades.
The proposed DRL CCR Refinery is planned for roughly 150 acres near FM 631 and County Road 3067, about three miles south of Taft.
Developers say the project would represent an investment of approximately $1.2 billion and would be designed to process about 40,000 barrels of light sweet crude per day, including oil from the Eagle Ford and West Texas.
The refinery is expected to produce gasoline, diesel and marine fuel oil.
Farmer Bobby Nedbalek, who has worked cotton fields in the area for years, is preparing to sell part of his land for the project and become a partner in the development.
“It’s better to grow a refinery than it is to grow cotton,” Nedbalek said in reporting on the project.
Developer Says Financing Is Secured
DRL Refineries says financing has been secured and investors have committed to funding the project.
Developers have said construction could begin as early as October 2026, with completion targeted for 2030.
The refinery is projected to employ about 200 people once operational.
Plans also call for moving refined products by pipeline toward existing infrastructure connected to the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. The developer has also discussed infrastructure improvements associated with the project, including sewer and fiber upgrades.
Additional Approvals Still Required
Despite the developer’s construction timeline, the refinery is not yet fully cleared for construction.
Additional permitting from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is still required before the project can move forward.
Developers have described the project as potentially one of the first major new U.S. refineries built in decades. Other new refinery projects are also moving forward in Texas, including a separate project at the Port of Brownsville.
If completed, the $1.2 billion development would mark a significant change for this portion of San Patricio County, converting farmland into a major energy facility tied to Texas crude production and the Corpus Christi-area refining and shipping network.