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Commitments and contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016
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. We 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 $998 and $1,112 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, 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. Vernon 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 was stayed by the court in 2008 to allow for the remediation of environmental areas at the site. On June 30, 2016 the court ordered the stay lifted and reopened the case. 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. Through December 31, 2016, our affiliate Virgin Islands Alumina Corporation LLC, has expended approximately $1,085 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. 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. In August 2015, the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Division of St. Croix denied the motions to dismiss but ordered all plaintiffs to refile individual complaints. At this time, we are not able 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. Ravenswood Retiree Medical Benefits changes In November 2009, Century Aluminum of West Virginia ("CAWV") filed a class action complaint for declaratory judgment against the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union ("USW"), the USW’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 USW 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. On February 9, 2017, CAWV entered into a settlement agreement in potential settlement of these actions. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, CAWV has agreed to make payments into a trust for the benefit of the CAWV retirees in the aggregate amount of $23,000 over the course of 10 years, with $5,000 payable upon final approval by the court of the settlement agreement and $2,000 payable annually thereafter for nine years. We recognized a $23,000 liability in the consolidated balance sheets with a corresponding expense included in Ravenswood charges in the consolidated statements of operations in 2016. The settlement agreement is subject to final court approval which is not expected before the third quarter of 2017. PBGC Settlement In 2013, we entered into a settlement agreement with the PBGC regarding an alleged "cessation of operations" at our Ravenswood facility as a result of the February 2009 curtailment of operations at the facility. 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. Under certain circumstances, in periods of lower primary aluminum prices relative to our cost of operations, we are able to defer one or more of these payments, but would then be required to provide the PBGC with acceptable security for deferred payments. We made contributions pursuant to this agreement of $1,100 in 2015 and $6,700 in 2013. We did not make any contribution during 2014 and 2016. We have elected to defer other payments under the PBGC agreement and have provided the PBGC with the appropriate security. The remaining contributions under this agreement are approximately $9,600. Power Commitments and Contingencies Hawesville Hawesville has a power supply arrangement with Kenergy and EDF Trading North America, LLC (“EDF") which provides market-based power to the Hawesville smelter. 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. The power supply arrangement with Kenergy has an effective term through December 2023. The arrangement with EDF to act as our market participant with MISO has an effective term through May 2018, extending year to year thereafter unless a one year notice is given. Sebree Sebree has a power supply arrangement with Kenergy and EDF which provides market-based power to the Sebree smelter. 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. The power supply arrangement with Kenergy has an effective term through December 2023. The arrangement with EDF to act as our market participant with MISO has an effective term through May 2018, extending year to year thereafter unless a one year notice is given. Mt. Holly Mt. Holly has a power supply arrangement pursuant to which 25% of the Mt. Holly load is served from the South Carolina Public Service Authority’s ("Santee Cooper") generation at a standard cost-based industrial rate and 75% of the Mt. Holly load is sourced from a third party supplier from generation that is outside Santee Cooper’s service territory at market prices that are tied to natural gas prices. The agreement with Santee Cooper has a term through December 31, 2018. The current third party supply contract has a term through December 31, 2017. Both of these agreements may be terminated by Mt. Holly on 60 days' notice. Grundartangi Grundartangi has power purchase agreements for approximately 525 MW 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 late 2016, Grundartangi reached an agreement with Landsvirkjun for an extension of the 161 MW power contract that would have expired in October 2019. Under the terms of the extension, Landsvirkjun will continue to supply 161MW of power to Grundartangi from November 1, 2019 through December 31, 2023. Grundartangi will continue to pay LME-based variable rates through October 2019 and thereafter will pay rates based on the market price for power in the Nord Pool power market. Helguvik Nordural Helguvik ehf ("Nordural Helguvik") has a power purchase agreement with OR to provide a portion of the power requirements to the Helguvik project. The agreement would provide power at LME-based variable rates and contains take-or-pay obligations with respect to a significant percentage of the total committed and available power under such agreements. The agreement also contains certain conditions to OR’s obligations and OR has alleged that certain of these conditions have not been satisfied. Other Commitments and Contingencies Labor Commitments The bargaining unit employees at our Grundartangi, Vlissingen, Hawesville and Sebree facilities are represented by labor unions, representing approximately 63% of our total workforce. Approximately 83% of Grundartangi’s work force is represented by five labor unions, governed by a labor agreement which is effective through December 31, 2019 that establishes wages and work rules for covered employees. 100% of Vlissingen's work force is represented by the Federation for the Metal and Electrical Industry ("FME") by a labor agreement that is effective to June 1, 2018. The FME negotiates working conditions with trade unions on behalf of its members. Approximately 54% of our U.S. based work force is represented by USW. The labor agreement for CAKY's Hawesville employees is effective through April 1, 2020. Century Sebree's labor agreement with the USW for its employees at the Sebree smelter is effective through October 28, 2019.

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