US: Oklahoma attorney general seeks to halt EGA-Century aluminium smelter project

• Power demand concerns raise uncertainty over proposed US aluminium smelter
• Objections also raised over potential environmental impact, foreign state ownership

Oklahoma attorney general Gentner Drummond has filed a petition in Rogers County District Court to block the proposed $4 billion primary aluminium smelter project in Inola, Oklahoma, citing concerns over electricity consumption, environmental impact, and foreign state ownership. The project, backed by UAE-based Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum, was expected to add 750,000 tonnes per year of primary aluminium capacity in the US.

Under the proposed structure, EGA will hold a 60% controlling stake in Oklahoma Primary Aluminum, while Century Aluminum will own the remaining 40%. The lawsuit names both entities as co-defendants and raises concerns regarding the participation of the UAE state-owned aluminium producer in a strategically significant US metals project.

Power and environmental concerns

According to the filing, the smelter could require more than 1,000 MW of continuous electricity supply, potentially placing pressure on the regional power grid. The attorney general also highlighted risks linked to hazardous waste generation from primary aluminium smelting operations and potential implications for Oklahoma’s agricultural sector.

The development comes amid heightened policy sensitivity in the US around foreign participation in strategic metals capacity and growing concerns over energy-intensive industrial projects.

Strategic importance of project

The Inola project is expected to become the largest aluminium smelter ever built in the US. According to the United States Geological Survey, US primary aluminium production stood at 660,000 t in 2025, lower than the proposed smelter’s planned annual capacity.

The project had secured support from the United States Department of Energy, with Century Aluminum selected in 2024 for up to $500 million in funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to support domestic aluminium production and manufacturing onshoring initiatives.

The legal challenge could delay project execution and investment decisions at a time when the US aluminium sector is pursuing domestic capacity expansion to reduce import dependence and strengthen supply-chain security.