DOE Invests $500M in Century Aluminum's Efforts to Build Green Aluminum Smelter

On March 25, 2024, Century Aluminum Company, known as Century, was chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to commence negotiations for potential funding of up to $500 million under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. This funding is designated for the establishment of a new aluminum smelter as part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program (IDP). Century's Green Aluminum Smelter Project is among 33 initiatives spanning over 20 states selected to receive funding aimed at showcasing commercial-scale decarbonization solutions essential for guiding energy-intensive industries toward net-zero emissions. These initiatives also aim to fortify local economies, generate and sustain high-quality employment opportunities, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

With the aid of this funding, Century intends to construct the first new primary aluminum smelter in the United States in 45 years. Upon completion, this smelter is expected to effectively double the size of the current U.S. primary aluminum industry, marking a significant milestone in the sector's evolution. This substantial investment signifies a crucial infusion of capital into the U.S. primary aluminum industry. The Project holds the promise of bolstering domestic supply chains for materials vital to the transition toward green energy, including those necessary for electric vehicles, renewable energy production and storage, construction, and sustainable packaging.

Jesse Gary, CEO of Century, expressed profound pride in Century's Green Aluminum Smelter Project being chosen for substantial support by the DOE. He conveyed enthusiasm for advancing this transformative initiative, noting its alignment with the shared goals and aspirations of all stakeholders. Gary emphasized the Project's potential to deliver substantial benefits to the domestic primary aluminum industry, the broader U.S. economy, and national security interests, while also contributing to the construction of a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Century anticipates locating the new smelter within the Ohio/Mississippi River Basins. The project is forecasted to generate over 1,000 full-time positions, with representation from the United Steelworkers union, in addition to creating more than 5,500 construction jobs. Century intends to collaborate with job training organizations and local technical colleges to recruit and equip employees from the surrounding communities where the smelter will be situated.

Century Aluminum is an integrated producer of bauxite, alumina, and primary aluminum products. As the largest primary aluminum producer in the United States, Century also operates production facilities in Iceland, the Netherlands, and Jamaica.

Century Aluminum operates three aluminum smelters in the United States, located in Hawesville, Kentucky (Hawesville), Robards, Kentucky (Sebree), Mt. Holly, South Carolina (Mt. Holly), along with one smelter situated in Grundartangi, Iceland (Grundartangi).