Century Aluminum Company - Company Announcement (is)

- Century Announces the Curtailment of One Potline at Hawesville, KY Smelter

MONTEREY, CA--(Marketwire - March 03, 2009) - Century Aluminum of Kentucky, a
wholly owned subsidiary of Century Aluminum Company (NASDAQ: CENX), today
announced the orderly curtailment of one potline at its Hawesville, Kentucky
Aluminum smelter. 

The Hawesville smelter produces approximately 250,000 tonnes of primary
aluminum annually from five potlines. The potline curtailment will begin
immediately and will be completed over the next several days. The action will
reduce plant primary aluminum production by approximately 4,370 tonnes per
month and will impact approximately 120 employees. "This difficult action is needed to reduce the significant cash losses we are
experiencing at the currently depressed global price for aluminum," said
Hawesville vice president and plant manager Matt Powell. "Since July of last
year, aluminum prices have experienced an unprecedented decline of more than
55%. Conserving cash now is necessary for long term sustainability -- the
shutdown is a short term action to get us through this economic crisis. We
believe that aluminum markets will ultimately strengthen, allowing us to
profitably operate the facility for the long term.""The future sustainability of the smelter," Powell continued, "is dependent
upon reliable and competitive energy. The long term, cost-based power contracts
we have negotiated with Kenergy Corporation and Big Rivers Electric Corp will
allow us to operate the smelter and be a major contributor to the economic
well-being of Western Kentucky for many years to come. It is noteworthy that
the proposed contracts also provide for temporary potline shutdowns in the
event of economic downturns such as the one we are currently experiencing." The
power contracts are currently under review by the Kentucky Public Service
Commission as part of a proposed unwind of the lease agreement between Big
Rivers and E.ON. 

Century Aluminum Company, the parent of Century Aluminum of Kentucky, owns
primary aluminum capacity in the United States and Iceland, as well as an
interest in alumina and bauxite assets in the United States and Jamaica.
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 company has based its forward-looking
statements 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. 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: 

Helga Gunnarsdottir, Director-Corporate Finance, NBI hf. 

Astros Vidarsdottir, Senior Manager-Corporate Finance, NBI hf. 


Contacts:
Mike Dildine (media)
831-642-9364

Shelly Lair (investors)
831-642-9357