Rumors swirl around Century Aluminum reopening

Jackson County that, after a nearly three-year shutdown, Century Aluminum is beginning to work toward restarting its Ravenswood smelting plant.

More than 650 people lost their jobs when the company shut down the almost 50-year-old aluminum smelter at the height of the global recession in February 2009. Only a handful of people now work doing basic maintenance at the shuttered plant.

While company officials have said they continue to work on the issues that could lead to a potential restart of the plant, many of those affected by the shutdown have felt those statements were nothing more than lip service.

However, following recent changes in company leadership and gradual improvements in the global economy, that attitude is beginning to change.

Some who have dealt with the handful of workers left at the plant say they feel the company is starting to take a more active role in lining things up to turn the aluminum potlines back on at the plant.

"People have gotten wind that something's going on," Ravenswood Mayor Lucy Harbert said. "And that's what I'm hearing: They are really working on it."

Recently, the neighboring Constellium aluminum rolling mill recalled 25 laid-off workers and restored employees who had been working 32 hours a week to full 40-hour workweeks ahead of new production trials at that plant.

Since the Constellium plant was the chief customer of the Century smelter, which supplied it with raw, molten aluminum, the move has helped fuel the restart speculation.

The company has consistently said three factors would have to be addressed before any potential restart could occur - a more flexible power contract, a new labor agreement, and improvements that would help ensure the plant could remain profitable.

The plant was Appalachian Power's biggest customer, representing 10 percent of their overall power consumption. When the Century plant shut down, it meant the power company had a smaller customer base to work with, and fewer customers over which to spread cost and rate increases.

Appalachian Power spokeswoman Jeri Matheney said power company officials reach out to Century Aluminum counterparts on a regular basis. While she said there have been no new developments, they have heard the same things people in Jackson County have been hearing as well.

"We've been hearing those rumors and we'd certainly like to see them come back," Matheney said. "It's in everyone's best interest."

Century Aluminum spokesman Mike Dildine last week reaffirmed the company's commitment to restarting the plant.

"We continue to believe that restarting the Ravenswood smelter is in the best interest of all of our stakeholders," Dildine said. "In order for the restart to occur, we are addressing three areas: improving the plant's competitive cost structure (in all areas), gaining a flexible and competitive energy contract, (and) achieving an enabling labor agreement."

The subtle change in that statement from previous ones was the absence of the word "potential" in front of restart. Dildine wouldn't offer specific details, but said the company is discussing issues with state and federal leaders.

One of the key stumbling blocks in that arena is Century's decision last year to end health benefits for retirees.

Retirees have consistently protested the decision and have gained support from political leaders, who say any talks of a restart must include restoration of those benefits.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., has played an active role behind the scenes in setting up meetings for retirees with federal labor officials, as well as communicating with company leaders.

"I have a long history with this plant, and most of the families in Jackson County do too," Rockefeller said in an emailed statement Friday. "It's difficult to overstate the importance of getting it reopened, getting people back to work and making sure that retirees and active workers have proper health care and benefits."

Rockefeller has said he not only wants to make sure those retirees have their benefits restored, but also wants to make sure labor regulations are modified to prevent the situation from happening at other companies in the future.