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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  SIMON WARD
PHONE:    (713) 987-8600
FAX:      (713) 986-8865

                 TRANSAMERICAN REFINING COMMENCES TENDER OFFER

HOUSTON,  MAY 14, 1997  -  TransAmerican Refining announced today that it
intends to commence a tender offer to purchase all of its outstanding $340
million of Guaranteed First Mortgage Discount Notes due 2002 and $100 million
of Guaranteed First  Mortgage Notes due 2002.  The Company is offering to
purchase the First Mortgage Notes at 110% of the principal amount plus accrued
and unpaid interest to the purchase date and is offering to purchase the First
Mortgage Discount Notes at 110% of the accreted value to the purchase date.

Jefferies & Company, Inc. will act as the exclusive Dealer Manager for the
tender offer and D.F. King will act as the Information Agent.  The Company
anticipates receiving a loan from its parent, TransAmerican Energy Corporation,
the proceeds of which are expected to be used to finance the tender offer.  The
consummation of the tender offer is subject to certain conditions, including
the tender of at least 95% of the Notes and the proposed loan from
TransAmerican Energy Corporation, which are described in the tender offer
documents available from the Dealer Manager and Information Agent.  The tender
offer is scheduled to expire at 9:30 am, New York time, on June 13, 1997.

TransAmerican Refining owns & operates a large refinery, located near New
Orleans, undergoing a capital improvement program that will allow it to
process 200,000 barrels per day of mixed feedstock, including a large component
of heavy, sour crude.

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