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A large aluminumplant in Kentuckyhas been temporarily shut down due to rising energy costs and has fired more than 600 workers.
Century Aluminum has announced plans to close the Hawesville smelter for 9-12 months starting in August. The factory, which has about 628 workers, is the second largest employer in Hancock County, Owensboro Messenger Inquirer reported.
County judge Johnny Roberts told the newspaper that the company did not give him any guarantee that the factory would then reopen. According to Roberts, the company said the electricity cost ofhas risen dramatically this year.
The Kentucky aluminum factory has fired 600 people.
Century Aluminum said the Hoseville plant is the largest "US smelter and the largest producer of high-purity primary aluminum in North America."
The factory along the Ohio Riverhas recently increased production and announced the addition of 60 jobs in April.
"We celebrated it," said Andy Meserve, president of United Steelworkers Local 9423.
Employees learned about the pending layoff on Wednesday.
