NEW YORK, Dec. 7 -- Century Aluminum of Kentucky, a subsidiary of Century Aluminum Co (CENX.O: Quote), plans to begin restarting its idled potline at the Hawesville, Kentucky, aluminum smelter immediately, the company said on Tuesday.

The Monterey, California-based primary aluminum producer said restarting the idled potline should add about 4,370 tonnes per month of aluminum production. Annual capacity at Century's Hawesville smelter stands at about 250,000 tonnes of primary aluminum from five potlines.

To support the increased production, Century of Kentucky plans to add approximately 100 new positions through recall and new hiring. The company said it expects to complete the potline restart during the first quarter of 2011.

Century curtailed the potline in March 2009 to contain plant costs in the face of depressed aluminum prices.

It only shuttered one of Hawesville's five potlines.

The company said the smelter would begin the restart process immediately to "help sustain continued operations."