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                      Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle
                                101 Park Avenue
                         New York, New York 10178-0061

                                                                   June 28, 1996


Century Aluminum Company
1200 Piedmont Avenue
P.O. Box 51130
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Gentlemen:

                 We have acted as special counsel for Century Aluminum Company,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with respect to the proposed
registration and sale by the Company of (i) an indeterminate amount of
interests in the Ravenswood Aluminum Corporation Salaried Employee Defined
Contribution Retirement Plan, as amended (the "Plan"); and (ii) up to an
additional 100,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value per
share (the "Common Stock"), which may be issued in accordance with the Plan and
which are covered by a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                 In connection therewith, we have examined the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated By- laws and minute
books of the Company, the Registration Statement and all exhibits thereto, and
such other documents as we have considered necessary.

                 Based upon such examination, it is our opinion that the shares
of Common Stock proposed to be issued or sold by the Company, when issued or
sold pursuant to the Plan and the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Company (and the Retirement Committee thereof) authorizing the same, will be
legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

                 We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement.

                 We are giving this opinion to the Company, and no person other
than the Company may rely upon it.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                    /s/ Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle
                                             

                                        Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle