Century Aluminum begins expanded production at Mt Holly Smelter

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Century Aluminum has begun producing its first hot metal following the expansion of its Mt Holly plant in South Carolina, marking a milestone in its capacity ramp-up. The company expects the project to reach full production by the end of June 2026, increasing total US primary aluminium output by around 10 per cent.

The expansion has already created more than 125 jobs in South Carolina.

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“We’re so proud to be doing our part to increase domestic production of this critical mineral and expand on our position as the largest producer of primary aluminium in the United States,” said Jesse Gary, President and CEO of Century Aluminum.

The development follows the company’s January announcement to partner with Emirates Global Aluminium on a greenfield smelter project in Oklahoma. The proposed facility is expected to add about 750,000 tonnes of annual primary aluminium capacity.

The project is also expected to generate over 1,000 permanent jobs and around 4,000 construction roles.

Also Read: Century Aluminum sees higher demand, restarts capacity, and plans 750,000-tonne smelter

Gary added, “President Trump’s Section 232 aluminium tariff is driving record investment in American aluminium production. The case for domestic production is stronger than ever, with supply chain disruptions abroad again demonstrating the need for a resilient domestic supply of this critical metal that is essential to U.S. economic and national security.”

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