Century Aluminum Company - Company Announcement

Century Aluminum Announces Restart of Hawesville, KY Potline

Century Aluminum Announces Restart of Hawesville, KY Potline 

MONTEREY, CA--(Marketwire - December 07, 2010) - Century Aluminum of Kentucky,
a wholly owned subsidiary of Century Aluminum Company (NASDAQ: CENX), today
announced its intention to restart an idled potline at the Hawesville, Kentucky
aluminum smelter. 

The Hawesville smelter has a rated capacity of approximately 250,000 tonnes of
primary aluminum annually from five potlines. As a consequence of the cost
structure of the plant and depressed aluminum prices, one of the five potlines
was curtailed in March 2009. Restarting the idled potline is expected to
increase primary aluminum production by approximately 4,370 tonnes per month.
To support the increase in production, Century of Kentucky plans to add
approximately 100 new positions through recall and new hiring. The process of
restarting the potline is expected to be completed during the first quarter of
2011. "Bringing the Hawesville smelter back to full operating capacity will improve
our competitiveness and help sustain continued operations," said Hawesville
vice president and plant manager Matt Powell. "We will begin preparations for
restarting the idled potline immediately."

Century Aluminum Company, the parent of Century Aluminum of Kentucky, owns
primary aluminum capacity in the United States and Iceland. Century's corporate
offices are located in Monterey, California. 

Cautionary Statement 

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of U.S. federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and projections about the future; however, these
statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, any of which
could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in its forward-looking statements, including whether or not Century
Aluminum of Kentucky (the "Company") will ultimately decide to restart the
idled potline, and if so, be able to restart it successfully, whether or not
the restart of the idled potline will improve plant competitiveness, sustain
continued operations or increase primary aluminum production by the expected
amount, whether or not the restart of the idled potline will generate the
expected number of new employment positions, whether or not the Company will be
able to successfully fill the newly created employment positions and whether
such positions will be filled through recall and new hiring, whether or not the
Company will be successful in preparing for and restarting the potline during
the expected timeframes, and whether or not the Company will be able to reach a
new labor agreement with United Steelworkers. More information about these
risks, uncertainties and assumptions can be found in the risk factors and
forward-looking statements cautionary language contained in the company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other filings made with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The company does not undertake, and specifically
disclaims, any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect
the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after
the date such forward-looking statements are made. 

Certified Advisors for the First North market of the OMX Nordic Exchange
Iceland hf. for Global Depositary Receipts in Iceland: 

Atli B. Gudmundsson, Senior Manager - Corporate Finance, NBI hf. 

Steingrimur Helgason, Director - Corporate Finance, NBI hf. 

Contacts:
Media
Mike Dildine
831-642-9364

Investors
Shelly Lair
831-642-9357