Asset purchase	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Asset Acquisition [Abstract]
Asset purchase	Asset purchase In June 2012, Century Vlissingen purchased substantially all of the assets of the Zalco anode production facility located in Vlissingen, the Netherlands for approximately $12,500. In connection with the purchase, we entered into a ground lease with respect to the facility that is renewable at our option. Century Vlissingen did not assume, and is indemnified by the seller against, historical liabilities of the facility. Following the acquisition, we have undertaken a significant capital investment to modernize the facility, comply with environmental regulations and optimize anode production for our smelter in Grundartangi. Century Vlissingen restarted production in late 2013. The initial annual anode production capacity is expected to be 75,000 tonnes of capacity with an option to increase production capacity to 150,000 tonnes when we conclude it is feasible and advantageous to do so.

Asset purchase

In June 2012, Century Vlissingen purchased substantially all of the assets of the Zalco anode production facility located in Vlissingen, the Netherlands for approximately $12,500. In connection with the purchase, we entered into a ground lease with respect to the facility that is renewable at our option. Century Vlissingen did not assume, and is indemnified by the seller against, historical liabilities of the facility.

Following the acquisition, we have undertaken a significant capital investment to modernize the facility, comply with environmental regulations and optimize anode production for our smelter in Grundartangi. Century Vlissingen restarted production in late 2013. The initial annual anode production capacity is expected to be 75,000 tonnes of capacity with an option to increase production capacity to 150,000 tonnes when we conclude it is feasible and advantageous to do so.