MONTEREY, CA and FRANKLIN, TN--(MARKET WIRE)--May 9, 2008 -- Century Aluminum Company (NasdaqGS:CENX - News) and Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation announced today that Larry Holley has been named president and general manager of Gramercy Alumina, LLC and St. Ann Bauxite Limited, effective May 8, 2008.

"We are delighted with Larry's appointment," said Century's chief operating officer Wayne R. Hale. "His technical background, mining experience and energy expertise make him ideally suited to lead Gramercy and St. Ann."

Mr. Holley most recently served as president of El Dorado Chemical Company, a manufacturer and marketer of commodity chemicals. Mr. Holley also served as president and chief executive officer of The CBM Group from 2005 to 2006. Prior to forming The CBM Group, Mr. Holley spent over 30 years in a variety of leadership positions with the Mississippi Chemical Corporation, a manufacturer of agricultural commodity chemicals with potash mining and refining facilities. Mr. Holley holds a BS degree in engineering and a MS degree, both from Mississippi State University.

Layle K. (Kip) Smith, president and chief executive officer of Noranda Aluminum, stated, "We are very pleased that Larry agreed to join the team at Gramercy and St. Ann. To have someone of Larry's caliber in this role is a tremendous asset to the company."

About Gramercy Alumina

Gramercy Alumina is a joint venture company equally owned by Century Aluminum Company and Noranda Holding Corporation. The company's alumina refinery, located in Gramercy, Louisiana, produces 1.2 million tonnes of smelter grade and chemical grade alumina annually.

About St. Ann Bauxite

St. Ann Bauxite, which owns bauxite mining operations in Jamaica, is equally owned by Century Aluminum Company and Noranda Holding Corporation. St. Ann mines 4.8 million dry tonnes of bauxite per year.

About Century

Century Aluminum Company owns primary aluminum capacity in the United States and Iceland, as well as an ownership interest in alumina and bauxite assets in the United States and Jamaica. Century's corporate offices are located in Monterey, California.

About Noranda

Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation is a leading North American integrated producer of value-added primary aluminum products, as well as high quality rolled aluminum coils. The company, which also has an ownership interest in alumina and bauxite assets in the United States and Jamaica, is privately owned by affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P. Noranda's corporate offices are located in Franklin, Tennessee.

The information contained in this release is limited and Century and Noranda encourage interested parties to read the financial reports and other information available at: www.centuryaluminum.com and www.norandaaluminum.com.

     Century Contacts:
     Mike Dildine
     Media
     831-642-9364
      
     Shelly Lair
     Investors
     831-642-9357
      
     Noranda Contact:
     Alan Brown
     V.P. Human Resources
     615-771-5711