Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum Company have announced a joint development agreement to build the first new primary aluminium production plant in the United States since 1980. 

Under the joint development agreement, EGA will own 60 per cent of the venture, with Century owning the remaining 40 per cent. The new plant, to be built in Inola, Oklahoma as previously announced by EGA, is expected to produce 750,000 tonnes of aluminium per year, larger than previously envisioned and more than doubling current U.S. production. The Inola plant will create 1,000 permanent direct jobs at the facility and 4,000 jobs during construction.

The partnership combines EGA’s world-class expertise in aluminium smelting design and technology, construction and operation with Century’s extensive history and expertise operating aluminum smelters in the United States utilising domestic supply chains. The project will use EGA’s latest state-of-the-art EX technology, the most advanced ever installed in the United States. Both parties will now solely focus their greenfield development efforts in the United States on the Inola, OK site.

Once complete, the Inola plant will be the largest ever primary aluminium production plant in the U.S. About 85 per cent of the aluminum needs of American industries are currently met by imports. The new smelter will expand the domestic supply of this critical mineral and grow the American aluminium workforce, revitalising U.S. aluminium expertise and know-how.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “We have made great progress preparing for the start of construction in Inola, and welcome Century as a partner in this important project for the future of American industry and now both our companies. EGA’s global skills, technology and capital are being joined by Century’s deep expertise and experience in the United States. Together we will make a huge contribution to rebuilding American aluminium production for the 21st century.”

Jesse Gary, CEO of Century Aluminum, said: “Our partner EGA brings world-class smelting technology and construction expertise that are fast-tracking our collective efforts to realize President Trump’s vision of rapidly increasing domestic primary aluminium production. Key industries, such as automotive, aerospace, construction, packaging and importantly, national defense, stand to benefit greatly from this expanded production of this critical metal, which will create thousands of new American manufacturing jobs.”

Construction of the project is expected to start by the end of 2026. Production is expected to begin by the end of the decade. Detailed engineering work is already underway and negotiations with Public Service Company of Oklahoma and the state of Oklahoma on a competitive long-term power supply are progressing.

The plant will be built at the industrial park at Tulsa Port of Inola, located on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (M-KARNS), which is connected to the Mississippi River system and provides for efficient bulk freight movement.

The Inola plant is expected to drive the development of a regional aluminium-focused industrial hub in Oklahoma, creating thousands of additional jobs and economic opportunities in the upstream supply chain and in new downstream aluminium manufacturing.