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Commitments and contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and contingencies | Commitments and contingencies Environmental Contingencies Based upon all available information, we believe our current environmental liabilities do not have, and are not likely to have, a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Because of the issues and uncertainties described below and the inability to predict the requirements of future environmental laws, there can be no assurance that future capital expenditures and costs for environmental compliance at currently or formerly owned or operated properties will not result in liabilities that may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. It is our policy to accrue for costs associated with environmental assessments and remedial efforts when it becomes probable that a liability has been incurred and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The aggregate environmental-related accrued liabilities were $1,101 and $999 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. All accrued amounts have been recorded without giving effect to any possible future recoveries. With respect to costs for ongoing environmental compliance, including maintenance and monitoring, such costs are expensed as incurred. In July 2006, we were named as a defendant, together with certain affiliates of Alcan Inc., in a lawsuit brought by Alcoa Inc. seeking to determine responsibility for certain environmental indemnity obligations related to the sale of a cast aluminum plate manufacturing facility located in Vernon, California, which we purchased from Alcoa Inc. in December 1998, and sold to Alcan Rolled Products-Ravenswood LLC in July 1999. The complaint also seeks costs and attorney fees. The matter is in a preliminary stage in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, and we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this action or estimate a range of possible losses related to this matter at this time. Matters relating to the St. Croix Alumina Refining Facility We are a party to a United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrative Order on Consent (the "Order") pursuant to which certain past and present owners of an alumina refining facility at St. Croix, Virgin Islands (the "St. Croix Alumina Refinery") have agreed to carry out a Hydrocarbon Recovery Plan to remove and manage hydrocarbons floating on groundwater underlying the facility. Pursuant to the Hydrocarbon Recovery Plan, recovered hydrocarbons and groundwater are delivered to the adjacent petroleum refinery where they are received and managed. In connection with the sale of the facility by Lockheed Martin Corporation ("Lockheed") to one of our affiliates, Virgin Islands Alumina Corporation ("Vialco"), in 1989, Lockheed, Vialco and Century entered into the Lockheed-Vialco Asset Purchase Agreement. The indemnity provisions contained in the Lockheed-Vialco Asset Purchase Agreement allocate responsibility for certain environmental matters. Lockheed has tendered indemnity to Vialco. We have likewise tendered indemnity to Lockheed. Through December 31, 2014, we have expended approximately $1,033 on the Hydrocarbon Recovery Plan. At this time, we are not able to estimate the amount of any future potential payments under this indemnification to comply with the Order, but we do not anticipate that any such amounts will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity, regardless of the final outcome. Vialco sold the St. Croix Alumina Refinery to St. Croix Alumina, LLC, a subsidiary of Alcoa in 1995. In December 2010, Century was among several defendants named in a lawsuit filed by plaintiffs who either worked, resided or owned property in the area downwind from the St. Croix Alumina Refinery. In March 2011, Century was also named a defendant in a nearly identical suit brought by certain additional plaintiffs. The plaintiffs in both suits allege damages caused by the presence of red mud and other particulates coming from the alumina facility and are seeking unspecified monetary damages, costs and attorney fees as well as certain injunctive relief. We have tendered indemnity and defense to St. Croix Alumina LLC and Alcoa Alumina & Chemical LLC under the terms of an acquisition agreement relating to the facility and have filed motions to dismiss plaintiffs’ claims, but the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Division of St. Croix has not yet ruled on the motions. At this time, it is not practicable to predict the ultimate outcome of or to estimate a range of possible losses for any of the foregoing actions relating to the St. Croix Alumina Refinery. Legal Contingencies In addition to the foregoing matters, we have pending against us or may be subject to various lawsuits, claims and proceedings related primarily to employment, commercial, stockholder, safety and health matters. In evaluating whether to accrue for losses associated with legal contingencies, it is our policy to take into consideration factors such as the facts and circumstances asserted, our historical experience with contingencies of a similar nature, the likelihood of our prevailing and the severity of any potential loss. For some matters, no accrual is established because we have assessed our risk of loss to be remote. Where the risk of loss is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we record an accrual, either on an individual basis or with respect to a group of matters involving similar claims, based on the factors set forth above. When we have assessed that a loss associated with legal contingencies is reasonably possible, we determine if estimates of possible losses or ranges of possible losses are in excess of related accrued liabilities, if any. Based on current knowledge, management has ascertained estimates for losses that are reasonably possible and management does not believe that any reasonably possible outcomes in excess of our accruals, if any, either individually or in aggregate, would be material to our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. We reevaluate and update our assessments and accruals as matters progress over time. In June 2014, we reached a settlement with OR pursuant to the terms of which, among other things, Nordural Grundartangi ehf agreed to pay $3,600 to OR and OR withdrew and released each of Nordural Grundartangi ehf and Nordural Helguvik ehf from and against all claims related to the reduction in the power purchased under the existing power contracts. This settlement amount was paid in July 2014. As part of the settlement, Nordural Helguvik ehf and OR also entered into a Supplemental Power Contract pursuant to which OR agreed to provide supplemental power to Grundartangi or Helguvik from time to time during the remaining term of the existing Nordural Helguvik ehf power contract with OR. Ravenswood Retiree Medical Benefits changes In November 2009, CAWV filed a class action complaint for declaratory judgment against the USWA, the USWA’s local and certain CAWV retirees, individually and as class representatives, seeking a declaration of CAWV’s rights to modify/terminate retiree medical benefits. Later in November 2009, the USWA and representatives of a retiree class filed a separate suit against CAWV, Century Aluminum Company, Century Aluminum Master Welfare Benefit Plan, and various John Does with respect to the foregoing. These actions, entitled Dewhurst, et al. v. Century Aluminum Co., et al., and Century Aluminum of West Virginia, Inc. v. United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO/CLC, et al., have been consolidated and venue has been set in the District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. In January 2010, the USWA filed a motion for preliminary injunction to prevent us from implementing any modifications to the retiree medical benefits while these lawsuits are pending, which was dismissed by the trial court, and affirmed upon appeal. CAWV has filed a motion for summary judgment of these actions. The case in chief is currently proceeding in the trial court, subject to the court’s ruling on the motion for summary judgment. PBGC Settlement In June 2011, the PBGC informed us that it believed a "cessation of operations" under ERISA had occurred at our Ravenswood facility as a result of the curtailment of operations at the facility. Although we disagree that a "cessation of operations" occurred, we entered into a settlement agreement with the PBGC in April 2013 to resolve the matter. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we will make additional contributions (above any minimum required contributions) to our defined benefit pension plans totaling approximately $17,400 over the term of the agreement. During 2013, we made contributions pursuant to this agreement of approximately $6,700. Under certain circumstances, in periods of lower primary aluminum prices relative to our cost of operations, we may defer one or more of these payments, but we would be required to provide the PBGC with acceptable security for any deferred payments. In the first quarter of 2014, we elected to defer contributions for 2014 under the PBGC agreement and have provided the PBGC with the appropriate security. Power Commitments and Contingencies Hawesville Effective August 2013, we entered into a power supply arrangement with Kenergy and Big Rivers which provides market-based power to the Hawesville smelter. The power supply arrangement has an effective term through December 2023. Under this arrangement, the power companies purchase power on the open market and pass it through to Hawesville at Midcontinent Independent System Operator ("MISO") pricing plus transmission and other costs incurred by Kenergy. In connection with this power arrangement, CAKY has received approval from applicable regional transmission organizations and regulatory bodies regarding grid stability and energy import capability. Effective January 1, 2015, new agreements were approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission pursuant to which EDF Trading North America, LLC ("EDF") replaced Big Rivers as our market participant with MISO under this arrangement. Sebree Effective February 2014, we entered into a power supply arrangement with Kenergy and Big Rivers which provides market based power to the Sebree smelter. The power supply arrangement has an effective term through December 2023. Similar to the arrangement at Hawesville, the power companies purchase power on the open market and pass it through to Sebree at MISO pricing plus transmission and other costs incurred by Kenergy. Effective January 1, 2015, new agreements were approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission pursuant to which EDF replaced Big Rivers as our market participant with MISO under this arrangement. Mt. Holly Mt. Holly has a power purchase agreement (the "Santee Cooper Agreement") with the South Carolina Public Service Authority ("Santee Cooper") with an effective term through December 2015. The Santee Cooper Agreement provides power for Mt. Holly’s full production capacity requirements at prices based on published rate schedules (which are subject to change), with adjustments for fuel prices and other items. The Santee Cooper Agreement restricts Mt. Holly’s ability to reduce its power consumption (or the associated payment obligations) below contracted levels and to terminate the agreement, unless, in each case, the LME falls below certain negotiated levels. On June 30, 2014, Mt. Holly gave notice to Santee Cooper under the Santee Cooper Agreement to reduce the contract demand to zero effective December 31, 2015. We are continuing discussions with Santee Cooper and other parties regarding power arrangements for Mt. Holly following December 31, 2015. Ravenswood CAWV has a power purchase agreement (the "APCo Agreement") with the Appalachian Power Company ("APCo"). CAWV currently purchases a limited amount of power from APCo as necessary to maintain its curtailed smelter. Power is supplied under the APCo Agreement at prices set forth in published tariffs (which are subject to change), with certain adjustments. Grundartangi Nordural Grundartangi ehf has power purchase agreements with HS Orka hf ("HS"), Landsvirkjun and Orkuveita Reykjavikur ("OR") to provide power to its Grundartangi smelter. These power purchase agreements, which will expire on various dates from 2019 through 2036 (subject to extension), provide power at LME-based variable rates. Each power purchase agreement contains take-or-pay obligations with respect to a significant percentage of the total committed and available power under such agreement. In the fourth quarter of 2011, an additional 47.5 MW of power became available under a power purchase agreement with OR. This power can be used at either Grundartangi or Helguvik and a portion is currently being utilized at Grundartangi. In June 2012, Nordural Grundartangi ehf entered into a supplemental power contract with Landsvirkjun. The supplemental power contract, which will expire in October 2029 (or upon the occurrence of certain earlier events), will provide Nordural Grundartangi ehf with supplemental power, as Nordural Grundartangi ehf may request from time to time, at LME-based variable rates. Nordural Grundartangi ehf has agreed to make certain prepayments to Landsvirkjun for power expected to be used at a later date in connection with the contract, which will reduce the price paid for power at the time of consumption. As of December 31, 2014, these power prepayments totaled approximately $2,062. Helguvik Nordural Helguvik ehf has power purchase agreements with HS and OR to provide power to the Helguvik project. These power purchase agreements provide power at LME-based variable rates and contain take-or-pay obligations with respect to a significant percentage of the total committed and available power under such agreements. The power purchase agreements with HS and OR to provide power to Helguvik contain certain conditions to HS’s and OR’s obligations. HS (with respect to all phases) and OR (with respect to all phases other than the first phase) have alleged that certain of these conditions have not been satisfied. The first stage of power under the OR power purchase agreement (approximately 47.5 MW) became available in the fourth quarter of 2011 and is currently being utilized at Grundartangi. In July 2014, HS commenced arbitration proceedings against Nordural Helguvik ehf seeking, among other things, an order declaring, (i) that the conditions to the power contract have not been fulfilled and, (ii) that the power contract is therefore no longer valid. Nordural Helguvik ehf believes HS' renewed claims are without merit and intends to defend itself against them. Nordural Helguvik ehf is in discussions with both HS and OR with respect to such conditions and other matters pertaining to these agreements. In June 2014, Nordural Helguvik ehf entered into a supplemental power contract with OR. The supplemental power contract will expire in October 2036 (or upon the occurrence of certain earlier events) and will provide Grundartangi or Helguvik with supplemental power at LME-based rates, as may be requested from Grundartangi or Helguvik from time to time. Other Commitments and Contingencies Labor Commitments The bargaining unit employees at our Grundartangi, Vlissingen, Hawesville, Sebree and Ravenswood facilities are represented by labor unions, representing 59% of our total workforce. 81% of Grundartangi’s work force is represented by five labor unions, governed by a labor agreement that establishes wages and work rules for covered employees. This agreement expired on December 31, 2014. Since such time, we have been operating under the terms of the expired agreement while we engage in negotiations with the unions regarding the terms of a new agreement. 80% of Vlissingen's work force is represented by the FME, governed by a labor agreement that expires on May 1, 2015. The FME negotiates working conditions with trade unions on behalf of its members. 54% of our U.S. based work force is represented by USWA. CAKY’s Hawesville employees represented by the USWA are under a collective bargaining agreement that expires on March 31, 2015. CAKY is currently in negotiations with the USWA for a new agreement. In July 2014, Century Sebree entered into a new collective bargaining agreement with the USWA for its employees at the Sebree smelter. The agreement is effective through October 28, 2019. The labor agreement for CAWV’s Ravenswood plant employees represented by the USWA expired on August 31, 2010.

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