INOLA, Okla. — Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a petition in a Rogers County district court to block a proposed aluminum smelting facility in Inola.
According to Drummond, Emirates Global Aluminum holds a 60% controlling interest in the project. The company is based in the United Arab Emirates.
WATCH: Oklahoma AG: Proposed smelting project 'doesn't belong' in Inola:
Century Aluminum, a company headquartered in Chicago, owns the remaining 40%.
If completed, Oklahoma Primary Aluminum would be the largest primary aluminum production plant in the United States. However, the facility would produce hazardous waste, which raised concerns in both the Inola community and across the state. Billboards are up along Highway 412 in Inola, warning others about the proposal.
The facility would also draw more than 1,000 megawatts of continuous energy.
“A primary aluminum smelter does not belong in a community’s backyard, and its emissions do not respect property lines,” Drummond said, adding that winds could carry pollutants into the surrounding northeastern Oklahoma communities. “The injury is imminent, it is grave, and it is irreparable.”
2 News Oklahoma asked Drummond why he is now against the project despite the Oklahoma business and political establishment championing it since last year.
- Previous coverage>>> Doubts persist after DEQ meeting over proposed Inola aluminum smelter
"The original application (of the developer) was filed February 9 and it had a lot of information, but it was not completed until May 19," Drummond said. "And upon the completion of their application, my team and I worked diligently over the last 14 days to determine was enough info disclosed to Oklahomans so we can have an informed decision in whether or not we proceed or we block? And the problem with the application is it totally ignores many important elements that we have to get answers to before this attorney general will permit it to go forward."
Read the petition filed by Drummond's office in full here.
Inola's state representative Tom Gann, also a Republican, opposed the project. His office announced on June 2 he filed an appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court to block a $1.3 billion approval from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for PSO to generate electricity for the smelter and Oklahoma data center projects.
However, Gov. Kevin Stitt criticized Drummond's actions, saying the facility would be one of the state's largest economic development projects in history.
It is important to note that Drummond is currently running for Governor of Oklahoma.
“As soon as President Trump made his endorsement in the governor’s race, Drummond dropped the act and showed his true colors," said Stitt. "Now he is turning his machine against one of President Trump’s top priorities, once again weaponizing his office to settle scores instead of serving Oklahomans. President Trump’s aluminum project in Inola will rapidly grow Oklahoma’s economy and strengthen America’s supply chain for generations, while Drummond turns his back on our state in favor of cheap political gimmicks and personal gain.”
President Trump endorsed Mike Mazzei in Oklahoma's gubernatorial race. The Republican primary is scheduled for June 16.
A spokesman for leading Democrat for Governor, Rep. Cyndi Munson, sent a statement to 2 News also opposing the smelter project.
I have and will always stand up to corporations that want to come to our state and take advantage of our people and our natural resources. In 2025, I voted against HB2781, the package that started this massive tax giveaway to this out-of-state and foreign corporation. I have been and remain concerned about the environmental impact that this smelter will have on our air and water. Gentner Drummond has had over a year to take action against this particular corporation and remained silent as the tax incentive package was being discussed in the Legislature. He is now only doing so now that it is politically expedient two weeks before his primary election for Governor. My record is clear: I have always stood up for everyday Oklahomans against large corporations and will continue to do so as Governor.”
Oklahoma Primary Aluminum sent 2 News a lengthy statement in response to the attorney general's June 2 announcement. The group also linked to its website's "Answer Center" explaining its directives in Inola and how it says the smelter will operate.
Oklahoma Department of Commerce championed the project along with Gov. Stitt and sent 2 News this statement:
“The aluminum facility in Inola is the largest single-project investment in Oklahoma history. It will create 1,000 direct jobs for Oklahomans, support more than 3,300 downstream jobs and generate an estimated $26.3 billion GDP impact. It is crucial for national defense because it reduces reliance on imports from foreign countries such as China by strengthening domestic supply chains and onshoring critical mineral manufacturing here in Oklahoma. As with every project, the facility must comply with and is expected to exceed all applicable state and federal environmental laws, regulations and standards. We fully support this investment and the generational economic impact it will have on Oklahoma.”
However, most if not all Inola neighbors on hand at the June 2 announcement in front of Inola High School applauded the attorney general's action.
"I live less than two miles from where this proposed smelter is," Inola resident Beth Richards told 2 News while wearing a Stop The Inola Smelter t-shirt.
"The news that the brakes are going to be put on is huge. But it doesn't mean we have to stop all the efforts on all the fronts that we're doing," Richards said. It's just time to get caught up, because we've been playing such a game of cat and mouse."
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