- Century Aluminum Unable to Complete Long-Term Power Contract for Hawesville, KY Smelter

MONTEREY, CA--(Marketwire - May 29, 2009) - Century Aluminum of Kentucky, a
wholly owned subsidiary of Century Aluminum Company (NASDAQ: CENX), today
announced that due to unfavorable business conditions, it is unable at this
time to move forward on a proposed new, long-term power contract for the
company's Hawesville, Kentucky smelter. 

Century, along with Western Kentucky Energy (a subsidiary of E.ON U.S.), Big
Rivers Energy, and Rio Tinto Alcan, has been working for more than five years
to negotiate an "unwind" of the existing contractual arrangement between Big
Rivers and Western Kentucky Energy (WKE), and to define a new agreement that
would provide long-term and affordable power to the two smelters in western
Kentucky. 

"We are disappointed that we cannot proceed with the transaction at this time,"
said Hawesville vice president and plant manager Matt Powell. "All parties have
been working hard for a long time to create a mutually acceptable agreement. We
have consistently supported the transaction based upon the expectation that it
would produce a power contract that would support Hawesville's long-term
profitability. Current and expected economic conditions, however, have created
the perfect-storm -- significant weakness in both aluminum prices and wholesale
electric prices. The proposed contract might support Hawesville's viability
over the long-term, but the contract's take-or-pay requirement, in its current
form, could create financial hardship for the company in the short-term.
Regrettably, after discussions with WKE and Big Rivers over the past several
weeks, we could not find a solution for mitigating the risk. We will continue
to work diligently to secure a long-term power agreement that satisfies the
needs of all western Kentucky constituents." 

At full capacity, the Hawesville smelter produces approximately 250,000 tonnes
of primary aluminum annually from five potlines. As a result of the global
economic crisis and depressed aluminum prices, Century curtailed one potline in
March 2009. The Hawesville smelter currently receives its electrical power from
Kenergy Corp (a member of the Big Rivers system), under a power supply
agreement between WKE and Kenergy. Although the current power supply agreement
expires at the end of 2010, it does provide the plant with necessary operating
flexibility. 

Century Aluminum Company, the parent of Century Aluminum of Kentucky, owns
primary aluminum capacity in the United States and Iceland, as well as an
interest in alumina and bauxite assets in the United States and Jamaica.
Century's corporate offices are located in Monterey, California. 


Cautionary Statement 

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of U.S. federal securities laws. The company has based its forward-looking
statements on current expectations and projections about the future; however,
these statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, any of
which could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in its forward-looking statements. More information about these
risks, uncertainties and assumptions can be found in the risk factors and
forward-looking statements cautionary language contained in the company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other filings made with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The company does not undertake, and specifically
disclaims, any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect
the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after
the date such forward-looking statements are made. 

Certified Advisors for the First North market of the OMX Nordic Exchange
Iceland hf. for Global Depositary Receipts in Iceland: 

Helga Gunnarsdottir, Director-Corporate Finance, NBI hf. 

Astros Vidarsdottir, Senior Manager-Corporate Finance, NBI hf. 


Contacts:

Mike Dildine (media)
831-642-9364

Shelly Lair (investors)
831-642-9357