RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. (AP) -- Century Aluminum says it is closing its Ravenswood smelter and laying off more than 600 people by Feb. 20.
Century Aluminum of West Virginia announced the closure Wednesday.
The company has been hurt badly by slumping aluminum prices and already had curtailed one production line at the smelter. It said the majority of 651 employees will lose their jobs.
Plant manager Jim Chapman says the company regrets the impact of the shutdown on employees and the surrounding communities.
Chapman says the decision is unfortunate and wasn't taken lightly.
The company is a unit of Monterey, Calif.-based Century Aluminum Co.