Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has filed a lawsuit seeking to block construction of a proposed aluminum smelting facility in Inola, arguing the project would pose risks to Oklahoma’s air, water and electric grid.
The petition, filed in Rogers County District Court, targets Oklahoma Primary Aluminum, a proposed facility backed by Emirates Global Aluminium and Century Aluminum. According to Drummond, the plant would be the largest primary aluminum smelter ever built in the United States and would occupy roughly 350 acres near the Verdigris River.
Drummond argues the facility would generate hazardous waste, consume large amounts of electricity and water, and potentially impact nearby communities and agricultural operations.
“A primary aluminum smelter does not belong in a community’s backyard, and its emissions do not respect property lines,” Drummond said.
According to the petition, the facility is projected to require more than 1,000 megawatts of continuous electricity and has received significant public support, including a federal grant award of up to $500 million and a state incentive package valued at $255 million.
Governor Kevin Stitt criticized the lawsuit, arguing the project would create economic opportunities for Oklahoma and strengthen domestic aluminum production.
“As soon as President Trump made his endorsement in the governor’s race, Drummond dropped the act and showed his true colors,” Stitt said in a statement. “President Trump’s aluminum project in Inola will rapidly grow Oklahoma’s economy and strengthen America’s supply chain for generations.”
The proposed facility has been promoted as a major economic development project for northeastern Oklahoma. Drummond’s lawsuit asks the court to halt the project before construction begins.
