Century announces continued operation of two potlines at Hawesville, KY Smelter

Century Aluminum of Kentucky, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Century Aluminum Company, today announced that it expects to continue to operate its Hawesville, Kentucky smelter at approximately 40% of capacity (two potlines) following October 24, 2015. Century had previously announced its intent to curtail 100% of its Hawesville operations beginning on October 24th, but now will only reduce its operations to 40% of capacity.

The remaining operations at the Hawesville smelter will primarily produce high-purity aluminum and provide molten metal to local customers. Continued operations at 40% of capacity will be dependent on acceptable commercial conditions, including aluminum prices, product premiums and operating costs.

"We are pleased to be able to announce that partial operations will continue at Hawesville," commented Michael Bless, President and CEO. "Hawesville's ability to produce high-purity aluminum enables the smelter to produce a unique product that will hopefully allow the plant to survive, albeit at significantly reduced production levels, in today's market conditions.

"We regret the need to curtail any of Hawesville's operations, which cannot compete against the improper export of unfairly-subsidized Chinese aluminum products. The continued expansion of Chinese aluminum capacity coupled with the significant increase in unfairly-subsidized Chinese aluminum exports has caused the collapse in industry pricing and put this excellent plant in jeopardy. These issues must be addressed immediately," Bless said.

In connection with the announcement, Century Aluminum of Kentucky issued a new conditional federal Working Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice to employees who will be impacted by continuing a two potline operation. The new WARN notice informs those employees that the remaining two potline operation is expected to be curtailed if certain high purity production levels are not achieved or if there is a material adverse change in commercial circumstances. The previous WARN notice issued on August 25, 2015 remains in effect for the remaining employees.