Exhibit 99.1
                                                                    NEWS RELEASE

(CENTURY ALUMINUM LOGO)

CENTURY ANNOUNCES $150 MILLION PROPOSED PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF CONVERTIBLE NOTES

      MONTEREY, CA, AUGUST JULY 29, 2004 - Century Aluminum Company (NASDAQ:
CENX) announced today that it intends to sell, subject to market and other
conditions, $150 million of its convertible senior notes due 2024 ("Notes")
through a private placement exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"). Century intends to grant
to the initial purchasers of the Notes a 30-day option to purchase up to an
additional $25 million of Notes.

      The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Century, and will be
convertible at a fixed conversion rate into cash or a combination of cash and
Century common stock. In general, upon conversion of a Note, the holder of such
Note shall receive cash equal to the principal amount of the Note and, at
Century's election, either cash, Century common stock, or a combination thereof,
for the Note's conversion value in excess of such principal amount, if any. The
conversion rate, interest rate and other terms will be determined upon pricing
of the Notes.

      Century intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes,
together with proceeds from a future private placement of senior unsecured debt,
to fund a planned tender offer and consent solicitation for any or all of its
outstanding 11-3/4% senior secured first mortgage notes and for general
corporate purposes, which could include acquisitions and a planned expansion of
the Company's Nordural facility. The sale of the Notes will be not conditioned
upon Century's completion of the tender offer and consent solicitation.

      The Notes will be sold to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on
Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Notes and the underlying Century common
stock that may be issued upon conversion of the Notes will not be registered
under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States
absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an
offer to buy such notes and is issued pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities
Act.

      ABOUT CENTURY

      Century is a leading U.S.-based primary aluminum producer with 615,000
metric-tons-per-year ("mtpy") of primary aluminum production capacity. Century
owns and operates a 244,000-mtpy primary aluminum reduction facility at
Hawesville, KY, a 170,000-mtpy facility in Ravenswood, WV and a 90,000-mtpy
facility in Grundartangi, Iceland. Century also owns a 49.67-percent interest in

a 222,000-mtpy facility in Mt. Holly, SC. Alcoa Inc. owns the remainder and is
the operator of the facility. Century's corporate offices are located in
Monterey, CA.

      FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

      This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Century 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 Century'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 Century's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Century 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.

      CONTACT: Century Aluminum Company
               A. T. Posti, 831-642-9364




                                      -2-