GOOSE CREEK, SC – Century Aluminum Mount Holly Plant announced a major expansion to increase aluminum production. The historic milestone will increase domestic aluminum by 10%, according to the company. Federal, state and local government leaders joined Century Aluminum executives and workers for the announcement.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Goose Creek smelter is only one of four left across the country, and 19 aluminum smelters have closed since 2015.
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“We are here to make sure that we have a strong aluminum industry. That’s what you see happening now, stopping smelters from shutting down, stopping communities from hollowing out. If this baby closed, think of what would happen to this community. It’s just wrong, wrong, wrong. In 2015, Mount Holly was at half and now it’s at 100% capacity,” Secretary Lutnick said.
The ribbon cutting took place at the Century Aluminum site. Expansion will include a new pot line, where aluminum is produced. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson got to tour the facility and says this type of expansion opens doors for a stronger South Carolina workforce.
“South Carolina needs to do everything it can to partner with companies like Century Aluminum. We can open the floodgates to technical colleges, we can have more students, trade programs as early as high school, so they can have six figure jobs right after they graduate high school,” said Attorney General Wilson.
The company’s $50 million dollar investment is expected to create as many 4,000 construction jobs, and 650 jobs at the facility at full capacity. Century Aluminum CEO Jesse Gary says it is vital to keep this production in the US.
“From the cell phone in your pocket to the truck or car that brought you here today, and transmitting power across our power grid, aluminum is the foundational material for all of this,” said Gary. “For US aircraft armored vehicles, naval vessels, aluminum forms the airframe of US fighter jets, and body armor worn by the men and women defending this great country. By increasing the production of aluminum here at home, we are reducing our dependence on foreign supply chains, and fortifying our national security.”
Berkeley County and City of Goose Creek leaders also attended the event, and were excited for the opportunity for the city.
“It means as much for our city, as it does for our county, and our region. Many of those employees live in and around here in Goose Creek. It gives folks an opportunity to work closer to home,” City of Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib said. “They’ve gone from their lowest down at 300 employees now up to 600 at full production. Century Aluminum at full capacity is much more than a billion dollar economic impact on this state, and much of that impact is in Goose Creek.”
Aluminum workers say they are thankful for the job security.
“President Trump’s commitment to the American worker, through his bold action in foreign trade policy, have saved us from becoming one of those 19 unfortunate communities,” said Carbon Plant Manager Mark Schlag. “President Trump’s actions have given me hope that these opportunities and these chances will continue to exist. Not just for me not just for my coworkers on stage. But for our kids and future generations of American aluminum workers.”
Additionally, Commerce Secretary Lutnick said $125 million dollars in federal and private grant money has been secured for technical school training in South Carolina.
Century Aluminum Company is the largest aluminum producer in the US, with three smelters in operation in South Carolina, Kentucky and soon to be Oklahoma, as well as locations in Jamaica, Iceland, and The Netherlands, according to the company’s website.
