Century to begin construction of aluminium smelter before end of 2026
Century Aluminum says its planned primary aluminium smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, remains on schedule to begin construction before the end of 2026, marking a major step toward expanding US aluminium production capacity.
The project is being developed through a joint venture between Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA). Once completed, the facility is expected to become the largest primary aluminium smelter ever built in the United States and the first new plant of its kind in the country in almost five decades.
Speaking during Century Aluminum’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call, President and CEO Jesse Gary said work on the project continued to advance during the period. Bechtel is progressing with detailed engineering, discussions on a definitive power agreement are moving forward, and the companies have made substantial headway in arranging financing.
Gary reiterated the company’s expectation of reaching a Final Investment Decision and breaking ground by the end of this year. The partners are targeting initial hot metal production by the end of 2029.
The project could also benefit from a new US trade policy aimed at encouraging investment in domestic aluminium production.
On July 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order introducing tariff incentives for companies that expand existing US primary aluminium capacity or build new production facilities.
Under the programme, qualifying producers will be allowed to import primary aluminium equivalent to their planned new domestic output at a 25% tariff, compared with the standard 50% rate.
Century expects the Oklahoma project to qualify for permission to import as much as 750,000 metric tonnes of aluminium annually at the lower tariff beginning in 2027. The allowance would be divided between the joint-venture partners, with EGA receiving 60% and Century 40%.
For Century, that would translate into the ability to import up to 300,000 metric tonnes annually at the reduced tariff rate.
Gary said Century plans to use the economic benefit generated by the lower tariff to help finance its portion of the Oklahoma development. He also welcomed the policy as an important measure to support the rebuilding of US aluminium manufacturing, expressing appreciation for the Trump administration’s efforts to encourage investment in domestic production.
