The Middle Eastern company wanting to build a $4 billion aluminum smelter in Oklahoma has suffered extensive damage in the Iranian missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates in response to the US and Israeli-led war against Iran.
Pictures showed its massive plant ablaze in Abu Dhabi, and a statement from Emirates Global Aluminium indicated some of its employees were injured in the attack.
Financial Express also reported, “Iran strikes UAE industrial hub: Fire engulfs EGA facility in Abu Dhabi, injuries reported as regional war widens with Houthis entering conflict.”
It further reported the massive fire has gutted a major aluminum facility in the United Arab Emirates following a targeted Iranian aerial assault, marking a dangerous escalation in the month-long regional conflict. On Sunday, video footage captured by a traveler showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) plant in Abu Dhabi.
According to reports from AFP, the attack which involved a volley of missiles and drones wounded at least six employees and caused significant damage to the industrial site.
The Oklahoma Environmental Quality Department announced this past week it had received the application and intended to hold an April 23 public meeting in Inola.
The application permit, as released by DEQ, detail for the first time many technical aspects of the proposed smelter, which would become one of the first to built in the U.S. in several years. Global Emirates, with financial incentives from the state, announced the venture last year.
The application was made by Environmental Resources Management on behalf of Emirates Global Aluminium. It was a Prevention of Deterioration Air Permit Application which included a $7,500 processing fee and an expedited permit program fee of $15,000.
“EGA has elected to pursue the Expedited Air Quality Permit Pilot Program in recognition of the critical schedule requirements tied to their planned aluminum smelter construction,” stated the firm in filing the application.
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DEQ NOTICE OF TIER III PERMIT PROCESS MEETING
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The permit application is available at https://applications.deq.ok.gov/PermitsPublicReview/
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has received an application for an air quality construction permit from Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) for a proposed aluminum smelter facility in Inola. The applicant requests approval to construct a primary aluminum smelting operation at the Tulsa Ports Industrial Park in Inola, OK (Rogers County) located at E 620 Road, Inola, OK 74036.
Agency staff have begun reviewing the application in accordance with the Uniform Environmental Permitting Act. As part of the permitting process, DEQ scheduled a public process meeting for Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center, Inola High School, 801 E Commercial St., Inola, OK 74036.
At the meeting, a DEQ representative will explain how the public can submit comments and be involved in the permitting process. A representative from EGA will also be available to provide information about the proposed facility and respond to questions from the public. While this meeting is intended solely to discuss the agency’s permitting process, there will be additional, future opportunities to discuss technical aspects of the permit application.
Public participation is an important component of the permitting process. DEQ encourages residents, local organizations, and other stakeholders to attend this and upcoming meetings, review available materials, and be actively engaged with the permitting process.
As explained, the application included introductory information summarizing the process and air emissions, air regulatory program requirements and air emission calculations, a flow diagram and other technical details of the operation.
“EGA is committed to developing a facility design that fully meets the applicable air pollution regulatory requirements. The proposed EGA facility will be subject to, and will comply with, stringent air pollution regulatory requirements including PSD BACT, and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) for Primary and Secondary Aluminum Smelting Operations (also known as Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Standards),” stated the firm.
The plant, should it be approved and built, would affect through its plume of emissions, what are considered “sensitive areas” of visibility analysis in the state.
The closest sensitive location for a plume visibility analysis is the Deep Fork Wildlife Refuge about 70km away. Others that fall under the review of being possibly sensitive for visibility impacts include one as far away as the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles.
Sensitive Area Approximate Distance to Project
(km)
Deep Fork Wildlife Refuge 70
Tall Grass Prairie Preserve 110
Ouachita National Forest 170
McCurtain County Wildlife Refuge 215
Arbuckle’s Lake Recreational Area 225
Tishomingo Wildlife Refuge 230
Great Salt Plains State Park 240
Little River Wildlife Refuge 250
Black Kettle National Grassland 380
Lake Optima Wildlife Refuge 500
Rita Blanca National Grassland 610
The $4 billion project is expected to create 1,000 direct jobs, 1,800 indirect jobs and enhance Oklahoma’s ability to significantly grow its base of additional manufacturing jobs.
Oklahoma Commerce Department leaders toured Emirates Global Aluminium facility in the United Arab Emirates in February of this year, prior to last month’s start of the war against Iran by the U.S. and Israel.
“The size of EGA’s facility is difficult to fully understand until you see it in person,” said John Budd, CEO of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. “What impressed us most was how a project like this transforms an entire region, from workforce opportunities to long-term economic growth. Seeing the advanced automation working hand in hand with a highly skilled workforce made it clear that this will be a generational investment for Inola and the entire state.”
The delegation included Budd and Director of Global Trade and Investment Mark Wells from Oklahoma Commerce, representatives from Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), the Tulsa Ports and Oklahoma-based aluminum customer M-D Building Products. The visit provided firsthand insight into the size, advanced technology and global impact of a modern aluminum production operation.
“We were honored to welcome the Oklahoma delegation to our operations in the UAE and to showcase how large-scale aluminum production can be a catalyst for regional growth,” said Ziad Fares, EGA’s project lead for the Oklahoma production facility. “EGA’s partnership with Century Aluminum in Oklahoma reflects our commitment to building world-class industrial projects using industry leading technology and creating jobs in Oklahoma for generations to come.”