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State-backed Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and the US’ Century Aluminium have agreed to develop a new primary aluminum smelter in the US state of Oklahoma, according to a press release. EGA had first announced plans to build the smelter — which is said to potentially cost USD 5-6 bn — last March as part of the UAE’s USD 1.4 tn investment pledge to the US during Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s meeting with US President Donald Trump. The aluminum smelter was cited as a priority project under that framework.
The details: The ownership model will see EGA hold a 60% stake in the project, with the US aluminum producer holding the remaining 40% stake. The plant will be located at the Tulsa Port of Inola, close to the Mississippi River system, to facilitate bulk freight movements. Engineering works and negotiations for a long-term power supply with the Public Service Company of Oklahoma and the state government are underway.
The plant will be the first primary aluminum production facility in the US in 46 years, as well as the largest, and its 750k annual capacity will more than double the US’ current primary aluminum output. The country imports roughly 85% of its aluminum supplies and is looking to reduce import reliance.
It also comes as aluminum prices in the US have skyrocketed due to Trump’s tariff agenda hitting the import-heavy sector hard.
The timeline: Construction is expected to begin by the end of 2026, while production is slated by end-2030.
Why it matters
The project is among the first concrete signs of the investments the US pledged to make in the UAE, and also points to a sector that looks set to be critical to US-UAE ties moving forward: critical minerals. The agreement comes on the heels of the UAE joining Pax Silica earlier this month, a US-led initiative focused on securing supply chains spanning semiconductors, energy, and critical minerals. This came alongside an agreement between Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company and the US International Development Finance Corporation to invest in critical minerals, logistics, mining, energy, and infrastructure.
The move comes as welcome news for EGA, which suffered a blow last year after having to halt its Guinea operations after a dispute with the government. It’s also reportedly looking to gain a foothold in the Ghanaian market to develop a bauxite deposit there.
What’s next?
The companies said the project could also support the development of a regional aluminum-focused industrial cluster in Oklahoma, as the US looks to boost downstream manufacturing.
