The U.S. Department of Energy announced on February 10, 2026, that Century Aluminum will construct a new primary aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, supported by a $500 million grant from the agency’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright joined company executives to mark the progress on the facility, which Century Aluminum said it will develop jointly with Emirates Global Aluminum following an announcement on January 26, 2026.
What it means
The Inola plant is projected to produce up to 500,000 tons of high-quality primary aluminum annually, along with 20,000 tons of high-purity aluminum designated for national defense applications. Upon completion, the facility will be the largest primary aluminum production plant in the United States. The Department of Energy stated that this is the first new primary aluminum smelter built in the country since 1980.
According to the Department of Energy, there are currently four primary aluminum smelters operating in the United States with a combined annual production capacity of 683,500 metric tons. Historical data shows that 33 sites were once in operation, producing up to 5 million tons per year. The agency noted that in 2024, the United States imported 5.46 million metric tons and exported 3 million metric tons of downstream aluminum products and scrap, resulting in net imports of 2.46 million metric tons.
“This project could not have been realized without President Trump’s commitment to revitalizing this country’s manufacturing base and reducing our reliance on foreign suppliers,” Secretary Wright said. The investment from Emirates Global Aluminum was secured as part of a strategic partnership between the United Arab Emirates and the United States announced in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2025.
Key facts
- $500 million grant awarded by DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations in 2025 to advance construction
- Location: Inola, Oklahoma
- Joint development with Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA), announced January 26, 2026
- Potential annual production: 500,000 tons of primary aluminum and 20,000 tons of high-purity aluminum for defense applications
- First new primary aluminum smelter in the U.S. since 1980
- Current U.S. primary aluminum capacity: 683,500 metric tons across four operating smelters
- 2024 net imports of downstream aluminum products and scrap: 2.46 million metric tons
Source: Department of Energy news release