3.	Curtailment of operations – Ravenswood and Hawesville

In February 2009, Century Aluminum of West Virginia, Inc. fully curtailed its plant operations at Ravenswood. Layoffs for the majority of Ravenswood's employees were completed in February 2009. The decision to curtail operations was due to the relatively high operating cost at Ravenswood and the depressed global price for primary aluminum.

In March 2009, CAKY curtailed one of its five potlines at Hawesville. The action reduced primary aluminum production by approximately 49,000 metric tons per year. We restarted the curtailed potline at Hawesville in 2011. As of December 31, 2011, Hawesville was essentially at full production capacity.

We incurred curtailment charges (benefits) of $(3,806), $(37,386) and $41,710 during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, which are reported in other operating income - net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The majority of the curtailment charges are related to Ravenswood. The components of the curtailment costs are as follows:

	December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Ongoing site costs	$	12,313		$	14,332		$	18,233
Severance/employee-related cost		1,038			455			22,049
OPEB plan curtailment adjustment		(18,304	)		(56,728	)		(14,830	)
Pension plan curtailment adjustment		1,147			4,555			2,478
Alumina contract – amendments and spot sales net losses		-			-			7,448
Power/other contract termination costs		-			-			6,332
Total curtailment expense (benefit)	$	(3,806	)	$	(37,386	)	$	41,710

Cash curtailment expenditures

	December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
Curtailment of operations at Ravenswood and Hawesville	$	13,502	$	10,078	$	22,300
Ongoing idling costs at Ravenswood		9,464		7,351		9,300
Contract termination and amendment costs		-		-		15,100
Total	$	22,966	$	17,429	$	46,700