Inola Pauses Vote On Aluminum Smelter Planned For Port

Inola County, Okla., has extended a moratorium on a vote regarding Oklahoma Primary Aluminum’s aluminum smelter project, halting progress. The vote will now take place in April 2027 to determine if the project will continue.

Oklahoma Primary Aluminum, headquartered at Tulsa Port of Inola since 2025, was given clearance on the project in February by the U.S. Department of Energy. According to the department, the plant would be the largest primary aluminum production plant in the country, with the ability to produce an estimated 500,000 tons of aluminum annually. However, Inola residents petitioned for the project’s cancellation, citing environmental concerns.

“Tulsa Ports has a long record of sustainable industrial development,” the port stated. “We believe projects of this scale should be evaluated through the established regulatory processes by the engineers, environmental professionals and agencies responsible for determining whether they can be developed and operated safely. We respect the perspectives of community members and remain committed to responsible development and protecting the long-term economic opportunities the Port of Inola would create for the community, the Tulsa region and Oklahoma.”