Century Aluminium running out of time to restart Ravenswood plant

Century Aluminum’s Ravenswood plant is facing troubles again as it is unable to secure a viable power rate plan and is running out of time.

The power plan requested by the struggling plant cannot be approved without the consensus of the Public Service Commission said Appalachian Power but Century says it does not have time to wait.

Ravenswood plant had shut down six years ago making 650 people jobless. A $20 million in tax credit has helped the plant to open its doors again but the Public Service Commission has rejected the company’s past plans that could transfer costs from Century to other customers if aluminum prices plunge.

As a result, Century’s president, Michael Bless is faced with yet another tough decision and come to a conclusion as to what can be done about the power costs to revive the closed plant.

Appalachian Power says it does not have the authority to accept the company’s cheap power deal which means the company’s only option is to go back to the Public Service Commission. Other than that, there seem to be no other workable option to resuscitate the plant.