Century Aluminum's signing of an electricity extension agreement makes it possible for the Mt. Holly smelter to restart
October 10, 2025
According to the official website of Century Aluminum, the company has signed an electricity extension agreement with the Public Service Authority of South Carolina (Santee Cooper) to ensure a stable power supply for its Mt. Holly smelter before 2031. This is a crucial step in its plan to restart idle capacity at the Mt. Holly smelter.
Century Aluminum plans to invest 50 million US dollars to restart idle production capacity, increasing output by 50,000 tons, which is approximately a 10% increase in the total aluminum production in the United States. This expansion is expected to enable the Mt. Holly smelter (currently with a capacity utilization rate of 75%) to operate at full capacity in the summer of 2026, reaching its highest level since 2015.
It is claimed that the restart of idle production capacity is mainly a direct result of US President Trump's imposition of Section 232 tariffs on primary aluminum.
The final details of the resumption of production will depend on the economic incentives provided by Berkeley County and South Carolina.
