Oklahoma Primary Aluminum (OPA) is targeting the second quarter of 2027 to begin construction of a USD 4 billion primary aluminium smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, USA. The project is a joint venture between Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum and is expected to become the first new primary aluminium smelter built in the United States in nearly 50 years.
Located at the Tulsa Port of Inola, the facility is designed to produce approximately 750,000 tonnes of aluminium annually once fully operational. The investment aims to strengthen domestic aluminium supply for industries including automotive, aerospace and national defence.
According to Matt Aboud, Senior Vice President of Strategy at Century Aluminum, construction depends on environmental permit approvals, which are expected by early Q2 2027. The company aims to produce its first molten aluminium between mid-2029 and the third quarter of 2030, following an estimated 42-month construction period.
However, the project faces local opposition and legal challenges. Inola’s Town Council has extended its suspension of primary aluminium smelting until April 7, 2027, while a citizen-led petition proposes a permanent ban on aluminium production. 
Source: OPA with additional information added by Glass Balkan
