Oklahoma’s $4 Billion Aluminum Project Promises 1,000 Jobs as Permit Fight Continues

Developers of a proposed aluminum plant in Inola, Oklahoma, are projecting at least 1,000 permanent jobs and approximately 4,000 construction positions as they make a renewed case for a project facing local opposition.

Oklahoma Primary Aluminum released an economic impact study on September 23, outlining the potential benefits of an investment exceeding $4 billion. The company projects average annual compensation of about $100,000 for permanent positions once the facility is fully operational.

The plant would be built at the Tulsa Port of Inola in Rogers County. A joint venture between Emirates Global Aluminium and Century Aluminum, it is designed to produce up to 750,000 metric tons of aluminum annually for industries including aerospace, automotive manufacturing, construction and defense.

The study, conducted by Regional Economic Models Inc., estimates a cumulative contribution of approximately $49 billion to Oklahoma’s economy through 2060. That figure represents projected economic activity over decades, separate from the developers’ construction investment.

The company also estimates that the project would support roughly 7,000 Oklahoma jobs annually across the wider economy, including suppliers, service businesses and employment supported by household spending. Those positions extend beyond the approximately 1,000 permanent jobs planned at the plant.

But Inola has put up a roadblock. The city council voted September 14 to extend a moratorium on smelter permits through April 2027 and hold a referendum on whether the facility should be built, Reuters reported. Residents opposing the project have raised concerns about environmental impacts.

The developers have proposed tighter emissions limits. A September 3 announcement published by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce outlined a revised plan reducing the proposed limit for fluoride emissions per ton of aluminum from the production lines by 37%.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality says it must review emission controls and compliance with regulatory requirements before making a permit decision.

For prospective workers, hiring remains ahead. The company’s project information page says recruitment for plant operations has not begun and openings will be posted nearer the start of production. Most construction positions would be handled through contractors and subcontractors.

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