Exhibit 99.1


(CA-CENTURY-ALUMINUM)(CENX) Century Aluminum Company Names Jack E. Thompson to
Board of Directors


     MONTEREY, Calif.-- March 31, 2005--Century Aluminum Company (Nasdaq:CENX)
announced today that Jack E. Thompson has joined the company's board of
directors.

     Mr. Thompson served as vice chairman of Barrick Gold Corp. from 2001 to
2005, and chairman and chief executive officer of Homestake Mining Co. from 1999
to 2001. He has been involved, from both management and board perspectives, in
numerous acquisitions, public offerings and financing activities. Mr. Thompson
currently serves on the boards of directors of Tidewater Inc., Stillwater Mining
Co. and Phelps Dodge Corp. In addition, he has served on a variety of non-profit
boards in the United States, Canada and Australia.

     "I am delighted to welcome Jack to the board of directors," said Century
chairman and chief executive officer Craig Davis. "He brings extensive business
leadership to our board along with a superb reputation within the metals
industry."

     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
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 by 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.

CONTACT: Century Aluminum Company
         Michael Dildine, 831-642-9364
         mdildine@centuryca.com





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