What’s Next for Trump-Backed $4B Aluminum Smelter in Oklahoma? Local Vote, Lawsuit and Emissions Cuts Loom

Former President Donald Trump’s push for a large aluminum smelter in rural Inola, Oklahoma, cleared a statewide political hurdle in late August but now faces a high-stakes local fight, a pending lawsuit and new environmental commitments from developers.

Project Snapshot

The proposed $4 billion plant, developed by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum, would produce about 750,000 metric tons per year of primary aluminum — the first new U.S. smelter since 1980 and, if built, the Western Hemisphere’s largest source of primary aluminum. Supporters say the plant would boost domestic supply for transportation, defense, aerospace and electrical infrastructure at a time when the U.S. imports roughly 60% of its primary aluminum.

Political Backdrop

The smelter became a flashpoint in Oklahoma’s Republican governor’s race. Attorney General Gentner Drummond opposed the project on environmental grounds and filed a state-court lawsuit in June to block it. His runoff opponent, former state senator Mike Mazzei, had opposed the project but shifted after a Trump endorsement; Mazzei narrowly won the Aug. 25 runoff by roughly 2,000 votes.

Legal Status

EGA and Century Aluminum sought to move Drummond’s suit to federal court, arguing national-security implications tied to aluminum supply. The U.S. Department of Justice filed comments supporting the project and urging against the lawsuit, citing military readiness. A federal judge, however, granted Drummond’s request to keep the case in state court, where it remains active.

Local Opposition, Moratorium and Referendum

In June the Inola City Council imposed a moratorium on smelter permits after a contentious public meeting. The moratorium — originally set to expire Sept. 28 — was unanimously extended on Sept. 14 through April 7, 2027. On that date the council has scheduled a referendum asking residents whether the smelter should be built.

The plant would be sited in the Port of Inola industrial park, created after the Tulsa-Rogers County Port Authority purchased more than 2,000 acres in 2019. The city council’s authority stems from the park’s location within Inola city limits. Term-limited Governor Kevin Stitt has suggested the port could be moved outside city limits to remove local jurisdiction, but state law generally requires local approvals for such transfers, and the mechanics of any move remain unclear.

Developers’ Response and Environmental Commitments

EGA and Century Aluminum said they were disappointed by the moratorium extension and consider a referendum premature while legal appeals are pending. In a recent regulatory filing, the developers pledged to reduce fluoride emissions by about 37% at the proposed plant and said they would publish an economic impact study in the coming weeks. "Community trust, transparency and responsible development remain central to our approach," said project engineer Ziad Fares.

"Moving forward with a vote before the appeals process undermines basic due process and exposes Inola taxpayers to significant financial and legal risk," the developers warned in a joint statement.

What Comes Next

The project faces three parallel hurdles: the state-court lawsuit brought by the attorney general, local opposition crystallized in a moratorium and upcoming referendum, and scrutiny over environmental impacts despite the developers’ promised emissions cuts. How these strands resolve will determine whether the plant proceeds, moves to another site, or stalls indefinitely.

Reporting note: Details are based on public statements, court filings and Inola City Council actions reported in September 2024.