Associated Press Published

Ravenswood Century Aluminum Plant Permanently Shut Down

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Century Aluminum has announced that it will permanently close its Ravenswood plant, effective immediately.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin issued a statement after the company’s Monday announcement, urging Century to reconsider its decision and continue to work with officials to find a different solution.

The plant had struggled for years, with 650 employees out of work since the plant was idled in February 2009.

The company says it is shuttering the plant because it had not been able to obtain a competitive power supply contract. It also says economic conditions have made it too costly to restart the plant.

Sen. Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael expressed disappointment with the closure, but was hopeful for the future uses of the 1957 plant in Jackson County.