Century Aluminum Advances with DOE Grant to Bolster Domestic Aluminum Production

Century Aluminum has entered Phase One of a four-phase agreement under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) grant initiative, first extended in March 2024. The project aims to strengthen domestic aluminum manufacturing capacity, reduce reliance on imports, and secure critical supply chains vital to national security and economic growth.

In March 2024, Century was chosen by the DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to negotiate funding of up to $500 million under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. The funding will support the construction of a new aluminum smelter as part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program (IDP).

Aluminum is a key material for industries such as defense and infrastructure and is critical to U.S. economic and energy security. Century Aluminum highlighted the strategic importance of increasing domestic production to address vulnerabilities in global supply chains and reduce reliance on imports, particularly from China.

“America’s ability to lead again on production of critical materials like aluminum is essential to safeguarding its economic sovereignty and reducing exposure to geopolitical adversaries who seek to dominate global supply chains,” stated Joe Quinn, executive director of the Center for Strategic Industrial Materials (C-SIM) at SAFE (Securing America’s Future Energy). SAFE’s mission includes advancing policies to enhance domestic production of critical materials and safeguarding against foreign economic coercion.

The location of the new smelter has not yet been finalized, but Century anticipates selecting a site within the Ohio/Mississippi River basins. The project is expected to create over 1,000 full-time jobs represented by the United Steelworkers union, in addition to 5,500 construction jobs. Century also plans to collaborate with job training organizations and technical colleges to recruit and train workers from the local community.

The agreement aligns with SAFE’s efforts to modernize U.S. energy systems, promote sustainable practices, and reinforce the country’s leadership in industrial innovation. SAFE’s Center for Strategic Industrial Materials works with industry stakeholders and policymakers to build resilient and secure supply chains for materials critical to national and economic security.