Century Aluminum Workers Avoid Lay Off at Sebree Smelter

Workers at a Webster County smelting facility who feared losing their jobs at the end of the year have received some good news. 

Officials at the Century Aluminum plant in Sebree have announced that they won’t have to cut back production and lay off workers after all. 

Last month, the company announced that it planned to close one of three production lines at Sebree by December 31st and cut a third of its workforce.  But Century Aluminum President Michael Bless says the western Kentucky plant will continue to operate at full capacity. 

"We are very happy to announce that Sebree will continue to operate," said Bless. "Sebree's ability to access low-cost market power gives it a competitive advantage over many of the remaining U.S. smelters. Past hard work and cooperation among Kentucky state legislators and regulators, the local utility and the Company to create this access will now allow the plant to continue to operate despite continued illegal Chinese trade behavior."

The Sebree plant has about 525 workers.  

Century Aluminum announced idling its smelter in Hawesville, Ky earlier this year but then decided to continue operations while laying off only some of its workforce.