Century Aluminum, a US aluminum producer, has secured a power agreement extension with South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) through 2031 for its Mt. Holly smelter, paving the way for a restart of the idle capacity at the facility near Charleston.

The company plans a US$50 million investment to bring the facility to full production by early summer 2026, a level not reached since 2015. This expansion will increase production by 50,000 tons, raise US aluminum output by 10%, and create more than 100 new jobs.

CEO Jesse Gary said the restart plan benefits from US President Trump's support, specifically the recent Section 232 tariff increases. The restart is also contingent upon final economic incentives from Berkeley County and the State of South Carolina. The fully operational Mt. Holly smelter will contribute about US$900 million yearly to the state's economy.