An aluminum producer will return to full capacity at its smelter in western Kentucky, and will create more than 300 new jobs by early next year that could pump more than $150 million into the local economy.
Century Aluminum made the announcement Wednesday at Hawesville with U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilburn Ross in attendance.
More than 125 employees have already been hired because of tariffs announced in March, the company said in a news release.
“The Trump administration’s trade policies have provided much needed relief to America’s primary aluminum workers – leveling the playing field and ensuring that the U.S. primary aluminum industry maintains its competitiveness on the world stage,” said Michael Bless, CEO of Century Aluminum. “Today’s restart will allow us to return to 100 percent capacity in the months ahead while upgrading our smelting technology to ensure we remain competitive long into the future.”
This will be the first of three new pot lines opening at the plant.
Century closed three lines and laid off about 320 workers at the smelter in 2015
in a dispute over electricity prices. The company says it has operated at 40 percent capacity for the last three years.
“For too long, the government ignored repeated warnings of the impact on the U.S. aluminum sector and its ability to support our armed forces,” Ross said. “President Trump’s initiatives are addressing the very problems previous leadership failed to confront with the urgency that these threats presented. This administration remains steadfast in our Made in the U.S.A. commitment.”
Gov. Matt Bevin noted the worldwide demand and local impact of the company being back at full capacity.
“Century’s products coming out of Hawesville and Sebree are in demand in Kentucky, across the United States, and around the world,” he said. “There is no better place in America to produce high-quality aluminum, and we’re delighted to see the Century facility operating at full capacity and bringing hundreds of jobs back to the local community.”
Century’s Hawesville smelter produces aluminum that supplies the defense and aerospace industries, with a majority of Hawesville’s production lines configured to produce military-grade aluminum, making the smelter the largest producer of military-grade aluminum in North America.
By Kentucky Today
