Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum Company have entered into a joint development agreement to build the first new primary aluminium production plant in the United States in almost 50 years, according to a joint statement issued by the two companies.
Under the agreement, Emirates Global Aluminium will own 60% of the joint venture, while Century Aluminum Company will hold the remaining 40%. The new smelter will be built in Inola, Oklahoma, at a site previously announced by EGA.
The companies said the plant is expected to produce 750,000 tonnes of aluminium per year, making it larger than originally envisaged and more than doubling current US aluminium production. Once operational, the facility will create around 1,000 permanent direct jobs, in addition to 4,000 jobs during the construction phase.
According to the joint statement, the partnership brings together EGA’s expertise in aluminium smelting technology, plant design, construction and operations with Century’s long-standing experience in operating aluminium smelters in the United States using domestic supply chains. The project will deploy EGA’s latest EX smelting technology, described as the most advanced aluminium production technology ever installed in the US.
The companies said both parties will now focus their greenfield aluminium smelting development efforts in the US solely on the Inola site. Once completed, the plant will be the largest primary aluminium production facility ever built in the United States and the first such facility constructed since 1980.
The statement noted that about 85% of the aluminium used by US industries is currently imported. The new smelter is expected to expand the domestic supply of the metal, support the growth of the American aluminium workforce, and help revitalise industry expertise and know-how.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said the company had made significant progress in preparing for the start of construction and welcomed Century as a partner in what he described as an important project for the future of American industry. He said EGA’s global skills, technology, and capital would be combined with Century’s deep operational experience in the United States to rebuild aluminium production for the 21st century.
Jesse Gary, Chief Executive Officer of Century Aluminum, said the partnership with EGA would help accelerate efforts to increase domestic primary aluminium production in the US. He added that key industries, including automotive, aerospace, construction, packaging, and national defence, would benefit from expanded production of the metal, while creating thousands of new manufacturing jobs.
“We are once again proving that President Donald Trump’s leadership is working to spur investment and innovation to revitalise the US aluminium industry,” Gary added.
Construction of the project is expected to begin by the end of 2026, with aluminium production targeted to start by the end of the decade. The companies said detailed engineering work is already underway, and discussions are progressing with the Public Service Company of Oklahoma and the state of Oklahoma on securing a competitive long-term power supply.
The plant will be located at the industrial park at Tulsa Port of Inola, part of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, which connects to the Mississippi River system and enables efficient bulk freight transportation.
According to the joint statement, the Inola smelter is also expected to support the development of a regional aluminium-focused industrial hub in Oklahoma, creating thousands of additional jobs and economic opportunities across the upstream supply chain and in downstream aluminium manufacturing.
