RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. — Century Aluminum announced Monday it will permanently close its Ravenswood plant effective immediately.
The embattled plant had struggled for years, with 650 employees out of work since Feb. 2009 when the plant was idled. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin issued a statement on the closure of the plant, saying he had asked Century to reconsider.
“We have worked diligently with the company as well as local, state and federal officials to find a solution that works for all parties, and we remain willing to offer assistance moving forward,” the governor said. “If this decision remains final, I encourage Century Aluminum to work cooperatively with its retirees to address their benefit needs, and the West Virginia Development Office will assist in marketing the site to a new user.”
Sen. Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael expressed disappointment with the closure, but was hopeful for the future uses of the plant in Jackson County.
“While we would do anything to get those jobs in Century Aluminum back here in the county, we will move forward with new uses and new plans for this incredible asset in Jackson County,” the senator said.
Carmichael said he would rather look to the future and see what else could be done with the plan rather than “holding on to false hope” that Century would reconsider the move.
“I’m also a realist in the sense that we see the price of aluminum at it’s current level of $1600 a ton; far below the market value,” he explained. “A lot of this can be laid at the footsteps of U.S. trade policy with China.”
He was critical of what he called the Obama Administration’s “War on Coal”, pointing out that 40 percent of the price of aluminum is based on the electricity costs to produce it, which has gone up as coal has become harder to use.
The plant, which was built in 1957, eventually eliminated health insurance coverage for its retirees after the 2009 closure. Carmichael said that despite the unfortunate reality of the end of nearly 60 years of history, it’s time for a new beginning.
“These things happen and we’re going to put forth that Mountaineer spirit to find a way to make lemonade out of lemons here.”