EXHIBIT 99.1

                                                   NEWS RELEASE

(CENTURY ALUMINUM LOGO)

               CENTURY ALUMINUM COMMENTS ON FIRST-QUARTER OUTLOOK

MONTEREY, CA. March 24, 2005 - Century Aluminum Company (NASDAQ:CENX) announced
today that certain cost and production issues will have an impact on
first-quarter results.

      -     Mt. Holly shipments will be reduced by about five million pounds as
            a result of cast-house production problems. The Company anticipates
            that cast-house production will return to normal levels by the end
            of the second-quarter of 2005.

      -     The Mt. Holly power surcharges are higher than expected. The higher
            surcharges will remain throughout 2005.

      -     While the St. Ann bauxite equipment failure did not interrupt
            primary aluminum production at Hawesville, alumina inventories were
            drawn down to offset lower Gramercy alumina production. The Company
            has elected to purchase four barges of alumina at spot prices to
            restore depleted inventories.

The Company anticipates that first-quarter earnings will be reduced by
approximately $0.10 per share.

Other than noted above, overall operations and results are consistent with the
Company's expectations.

Century owns 615,000 metric tons per year (mtpy) of primary aluminum capacity.
The Company owns and operates a 244,000 mtpy plant at Hawesville, KY, a 170,000
mtpy plant at Ravenswood, WV and a 49.67-percent interest in a 222,000-mtpy
reduction plant at Mt. Holly, SC. Alcoa Inc. owns the remainder of the Mt. Holly
plant and is the operating partner. Century also owns a 90,000 mtpy plant at
Grundartangi, Iceland, and will expand that plant to 212,000 mtpy in 2006. After
the completion of the 122,000 mtpy Iceland expansion, Century will own 737,000
mtpy of primary aluminum capacity. In addition, Century holds a 50-percent share
of the 1.25 million mtpy Gramercy Alumina Plant in Gramercy, LA. Century's
corporate offices are located in Monterey, CA.

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of U.S. federal securities laws. The Company 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 the Company'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 the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K and in other filings made with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company 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.

Century Aluminum Company, Monterey, California
Michael Dildine, 831-642-9364
mdildine@centuryca.com



                            Century Aluminum Company
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