Senior figures from across Oklahoma’s public and private sectors have returned from the Middle East after examining, at first hand, the scale of aluminium production in Emirate Global Aluminium that could soon be replicated in their own state.

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The facility, described as comparable in size and sophistication to the multi-billion-dollar plant proposed for Inola, Oklahoma, offered a practical demonstration of what such an investment can deliver.

John Budd, Chief Executive of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, said the experience brought home the sheer magnitude of the undertaking. He noted that the true scale of EGA’s site only becomes apparent when seen in person, adding that its broader impact was equally striking. According to Budd, projects of this kind can reshape an entire region - expanding employment opportunities, fostering specialist skills and enforcing sustained economic growth. He also pointed to the seamless integration of advanced automation with a highly trained workforce, describing the planned Oklahoma development as a “generational” investment for both Inola and the wider state.

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The group travelled to the UAE included Budd and Mark Wells, Director of Global Trade and Investment at Oklahoma Commerce, alongside representatives from Public Service Company of Oklahoma, the Tulsa Ports and Oklahoma-based aluminium customer M-D Building Products. The visit allowed participants to assess the operational footprint, technical systems and global reach of a modern primary aluminium producer.

Ziad Fares, EGA’s project lead for the proposed Oklahoma facility, welcomed the delegation and said the company was pleased to demonstrate its large-scale aluminium manufacturing and what it contributes to regional prosperity. He highlighted EGA’s collaboration with Century Aluminum in Oklahoma as evidence of its intention to deliver a world-class industrial project using leading-edge technology, while supporting long-term job creation in the state.

Century Aluminium, a major US-based producer, is partnering with EGA on an aluminium smelter development in Inola. Once completed, the site is expected to become the largest primary aluminium production plant ever constructed in the United States. The manufacturing process will rely on three principal inputs - electricity, alumina and carbon anodes - to generate molten aluminium. That metal will then be processed at an on-site cast house, where it will be alloyed to customer specifications and formed into a variety of solid products. Supporters argue that the facility will reinforce the domestic aluminium supply chain while creating high-quality employment and anchoring industrial expansion across the region.

Ryan Plotkin, Vice Chairman of M-D Building Products, described the visit as a powerful moment for the entire Oklahoma contingent. He said the trip had helped transform ambitious plans into something concrete and achievable, at a time when economic momentum in the state is building. However, he stressed that realising the opportunity would depend on close coordination between industry, government, utilities, local communities and commercial partners. That collaborative approach, he suggested, would be crucial if Oklahoma is to compete successfully on the global stage over the long term.

On their return, members of the delegation expressed strengthened confidence in the partnership between EGA, Century Aluminium and the State of Oklahoma. They believe that in the state’s history, the Inola project has the potential to rank among the most significant economic development initiatives, positioning Oklahoma as a leading force in US aluminium production for decades to come. 

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