Century to make more aluminum billet as part of Sebree smelter expansion

Century Aluminum is to invest $3 million in expanding its 205,000 mt/year Sebree smelter in Kentucky as part of a plan to significantly increase the percentage of molten metal turned into premium products, it said Thursday.

The expansion of the Sebree facility, located in western Kentucky about 100 miles southwest of Louisville, will enable the company to meet a growing need in the automotive body, aerospace and construction industries for premium aluminum billet and rolling slabs, according to the Chicago-based company.

"We're going to do less on remelt and more on premium products," Century spokesman Kenny Barkley told Platts, although he declined to say how much more billet will be produced as a result of the expansion.

The project already has begun. "It has started immediately, hiring already is under way," he said, adding that the project should be completed by the end of 2014.

Century's decision to expand Sebree "bolsters the future of this plant and hopefully reinforces that Century Aluminum is proud to be in this region and committed to stay and grow," said Jason Young, general manager of Century Aluminum Sebree.

Century also operates the 244,000 mt/year Hawesville smelter about 50 miles away in Hancock County, Kentucky.

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