Century Aluminum announced that the second potline at its Norðurál smelter in Grundartangi, Iceland, has been brought back online as of April 23 2026, a full seven to eight months ahead of the originally planned September‑October restart window.
The outage was caused by an unanticipated failure of transformer equipment. Repairs were completed in a phased process that has now returned the potline— which represents about two‑thirds of the plant’s total capacity—to production. The company expects the potline to reach near‑full output by the end of July, after which the entire smelter will operate at close to full capacity.
The outage had a measurable impact on the company’s Q4 2025 results: shipments fell 14% sequentially, but net sales rose slightly to $633.7 million, driven by higher aluminum prices and regional premiums. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $128.2 million, reflecting the company’s ability to manage costs amid the disruption.
"We’re proud of our Grundartangi team, who worked tirelessly to resume production under difficult circumstances," said President and CEO Jesse Gary. "The team demonstrated resolve and resilience in undertaking repairs to resume production faster," he added. "Coupled with our recent production expansion at Mt. Holly, Grundartangi’s restart reinforces Century’s commitment to meeting our customers’ needs with the urgency the marketplace demands."
Investors welcomed the restart, reflecting confidence in Century’s operational resilience and its ability to meet growing demand for low‑carbon aluminum. The event also supports the company’s broader strategy of expanding capacity through the Mt. Holly smelter and the planned Oklahoma facility, both of which will further increase the firm’s share of the U.S. primary aluminum market.
The Grundartangi smelter is powered almost entirely by renewable geothermal and hydroelectric energy, enabling the company to produce its low‑carbon Natur‑Al brand with a significantly lower CO₂ footprint than the industry average. The accelerated restart not only restores a substantial portion of production capacity but also positions Century to capitalize on favorable market conditions, including higher LME aluminum prices and regional premiums.
With the second potline back online, Century Aluminum is on track to achieve near‑full production at Grundartangi by the end of July, which will lift overall output and support the company’s revenue and margin targets for the remainder of the year.
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