Primary aluminium plant to generate $49 billion for Oklahoma
Oklahoma Primary Aluminium has released an economic impact study on its proposed $4 billion primary aluminium facility in the US. The company also unveiled project renderings of its 441-acre location at the Tulsa Port of Inola in Rogers County, Oklahoma.
The facility, a joint venture between Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum, is expected to produce 750,000 tonnes of primary aluminium annually once fully operational.
This will double national production capacity and reduce US reliance on imported aluminium, helping to secure domestic supply chains for aerospace, defence, energy, and automotive industries.
Ziad Fares, Project Director for Oklahoma Primary Aluminum, said: “Oklahoma Primary Aluminum is a transformative, multi-generational economic opportunity not just for Inola, but for Rogers County, northeast Oklahoma, and the state as a whole.
“Many states across America competed to secure our project because they recognised the significant contribution it would make to their own economic growth.
“We chose Oklahoma because of the state’s ambition for landmark industrial projects to drive prosperity and progress. That ambition is what is at stake as we strive to move this project forward in Inola.”
The study, conducted by Regional Economic Models (REMI), reports that the facility will generate approximately 7,000 Oklahoma jobs on average per year.
Employment is expected to peak at more than 10,600 jobs in 2029 as construction winds down and hiring for operations ramps up. Additionally, the project will add an average of $1.45 billion per year to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In total, the facility is projected to contribute approximately $49 billion in cumulative impact to Oklahoma’s economy through 2060.
Safety and environmental performance are also central to the project. The facility will incorporate EGA’s proprietary EX reduction cell technology, which are designed to improve energy efficiency and ensure the site meets environmental safety requirements.
In addition, the plant will have enclosed production units, continuous monitoring, and advanced scrubbers that capture and recycle 99% of process fluoride.
Consequently, the facility is expected to meet the lowest fluoride emissions intensity limits for a US primary aluminium plant.
Furthermore, Oklahoma Primary Aluminum will catalyse a fully integrated aluminium ecosystem at the Port of Inola, underpinned by the US Aluminum project.
This will include an estimated $400–$500 million in additional regional infrastructure investments – funded separately through federal grants and state incentives – support port upgrades, wastewater treatment, and a new electric substation.
