Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) plans to invest $4 billion in the construction of a new aluminum smelter in the U.S., making it the first primary aluminum production plant to be built in the U.S. in 45 years. The company recently signed an MOU with Governor Kevin Stitt to locate the proposed smelter in Oklahoma.
“The United States has been an important market for EGA for several decades, and we know there is strong demand for our high-quality metal ‘Made in America’,” said Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive officer of EGA. “EGA has the skills, technology and capital to start rebuilding this great American industry, and in Oklahoma I am confident we will secure the right conditions to do so. This is an important moment for EGA, and for the economic relationship between the United States and the United Arab Emirates.”
The last primary aluminum smelter to be constructed in the U.S. was the Alumax facility (now owned an operated by Century Aluminum) in Mount Holly, South Carolina, which was constructed in 1980. Since then, the U.S. has seen a significant decline in the production of primary aluminum in the U.S.. Constructing a new aluminum smelter would help bolster the aluminum manufacturing sector with low-carbon primary aluminum production.
The MOU signed by EGA and the Governor details the conditions of EGA’s investment in the state (contingent upon approval from the Oklahoma Legislature). The $4 billion project is expected to create 1,000 direct jobs, 1,800 indirect jobs, and enhance Oklahoma’s ability to significantly grow its base of additional manufacturing jobs.
“This is a monumental day for Oklahoma,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. “We are proud to welcome Emirates Global Aluminum to our state and excited for the generational impact this investment will have on our future. As President Donald Trump looks to onshore our nation’s supply chain for critical minerals, Oklahoma is leading the way in this sector. Thanks to our pro-business environment, Oklahoma is quickly becoming the critical minerals headquarters of the United States.”
The new aluminum facility will be located on more than 350 acres at the Tulsa Port of Inola, a 2,200-acre industrial park with access to rail, barge transportation, and global waterways. Once complete, the facility will be the largest of its kind in the U.S., producing billets, sheet ingots, high-purity aluminum, and foundry alloys. The aluminum produced in Oklahoma will support the aerospace and defense sectors — Oklahoma’s fastest-growing industry — as well as the automotive, food and beverage, and other critical industries.
“Tulsa Ports is thrilled to welcome Emirates Global Aluminium to the Tulsa Port of Inola,” said Deanne Hughes, board chair, Tulsa Ports. “Their decision to locate here reflects the commitment of the Port Authority and our partners to the development of infrastructure that supports significant growth in our region. EGA’s presence will spur new permanent job creation, substantially increase waterway shipping on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System and open the door to new opportunities for Oklahoma.”
John Budd, CEO of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, added, “This announcement catapults Oklahoma to the forefront of the critical minerals and aluminum industry in the United States. EGA choosing Oklahoma also unlocks the ability for us to compete successfully for opportunities we haven’t been able to pursue in the past. I can’t wait to see how this project transforms the economy in Northeast Oklahoma and across the entire state.”
This announcement is part of the White House’s unveiling of $200 billion in commercial agreements between the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates.