Century Aluminium restarts Kentucky smelter will restore full production capacity

SMM, Sept. 11: century Aluminium announced the official launch of its aluminum smelter in Hawesville, Kentucky, and created 300 new jobs early next year, investing more than $150 million to drive the local economy.

The news also marks the smelter's resumption of full production of the first of three production lines.

The plant has hired more than 125 new employees since the US announced a section 232 tariff in March. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross attended the opening ceremony with Century Aluminum CEO Michael Bryce.

Bryce said, "the Trump administration's trade policy has provided much-needed help to junior aluminum workers in the United States, who have created a level playing field for the primary aluminum industry in the United States and ensured that the primary aluminum industry in the United States remains competitive on the world stage. Today's restart will restore us to 100 per cent capacity in the coming months and upgrade our smelting technology to ensure that we remain competitive for a long time to come.

Century Aluminum also said the Trump administration will unswervingly live up to its made-in-America commitments. Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin said, "Century Aluminium products from Hawesville and Sebree are very popular in Kentucky, the United States and the world. There is no better place to mass-produce high-quality aluminum in the United States, so we are pleased to see that Century Aluminum's aluminium smelter is operating at full capacity, creating hundreds of jobs for the local community.

As a major driver of local economic growth, Century Aluminum will invest nearly $150 million to upgrade smelting technology, train existing employees to use new equipment, and increase professional jobs, including welders, machinists and engineers.

In the past three years, the Hawesville smelter has produced only 40 per cent of its capacity.

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