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Reliance backs first new US oil refinery in 50 years

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to build a new oil refinery in Texas with investment support from Reliance Industries. The refinery, planned at the Port of Brownsville, could be the first new oil refinery built in the United States in nearly 50 years.

The project is expected to have a long-term economic impact of about $300 billion. It will be developed by a company called America First Refining, with financial backing from Reliance, India’s largest private sector company.

According to Trump, the refinery will strengthen the country’s energy sector and increase domestic fuel production. He also thanked India and Reliance for their participation in the project, describing it as a major step in boosting energy cooperation between the two countries.

The facility will mainly process US shale oil and is expected to increase the country’s refining capacity. Once operational, it could help meet domestic fuel demand and also support exports.

Officials say the project could create thousands of jobs during construction and operation while also bringing economic growth to South Texas.

The announcement comes at a time when global energy markets are facing uncertainty due to geopolitical tensions and supply concerns. Expanding refining capacity is seen as an important step toward strengthening energy security.

If completed, the refinery would mark a major development for the US energy industry and highlight growing business ties between American companies and Indian firms such as Reliance Industries.

Also Read: Reliance steps up LPG output to support domestic supply

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Corporate

Google to invest $40 billion in Texas

Google has announced a massive $40 billion investment in Texas to expand its artificial intelligence and cloud computing capacity by 2027. The multi-year plan marks one of the company’s biggest infrastructure commitments in the US and positions Texas as a major hub for its next phase of AI growth.

The investment includes building three new data center campuses across West Texas, one in Armstrong County and two in Haskell County. One of the Haskell sites will be developed alongside a solar and battery storage facility, reflecting Google’s push to power AI infrastructure with cleaner energy. The company will also scale up its existing data center operations in Midlothian and the Dallas–Fort Worth region.

As AI workloads surge, Google is also focusing on securing long-term power supply. The company plans to add over 6,000 MW of new energy capacity through partnerships with energy developers. In addition, it has launched a $30 million Energy Impact Fund to support energy-efficiency and community projects across Texas.

To meet rising demand for skilled labour, Google will support electrical training programmes statewide, aiming to prepare more than 1,700 electrician apprentices by 2030. The company expects the investment to generate thousands of jobs over the next few years.

CEO Sundar Pichai said the Texas build-out will “power the new era of AI innovation,” while Texas Governor Greg Abbott welcomed the project as a major vote of confidence in the state’s business environment.

The move comes as global tech giants race to expand data center capacity to support AI models, cloud services, and advanced computing needs. While the scale of the investment highlights Texas’s growing importance in the AI economy, it also raises questions around energy consumption, environmental impact, and long-term sustainability.

Also Read: Trump drops tariffs to ease food prices