-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FbSXomcpDQeH5ZDWYgG5LRH2+HiFlkYDCoxXHG02LJP5/Ji1gJRcVLfFoiCco/Uh
 L0QdDnsWNcyHEU81v4hgCQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-036481.txt : 20040721
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-036481.hdr.sgml : 20040721
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040721184502
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-036481
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040719
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040721

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTURY ALUMINUM CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000949157
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF ALUMINUM [3334]
		IRS NUMBER:				133070826
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2511 GARDEN ROAD
		STREET 2:		BUILDING A SUITE 200
		CITY:			MONTEREY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93940
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3042736000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2511 GARDEN ROAD
		STREET 2:		BUILDING A SUITE 200
		CITY:			MONTEREY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93940

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OBRIEN JOHN P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201474

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27918
		FILM NUMBER:		04925263

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CURTIS MALLET PREVOST COLT & MOSLE
		STREET 2:		101 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10178
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126968801

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CURTIS MALLET PREVOST COLT & MOSLE
		STREET 2:		101 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10178
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd48581.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 REPORTING 7/19 GRANT OF NON-EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000949157</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTURY ALUMINUM CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CENX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201474</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OBRIEN JOHN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2511 GARDEN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTEREY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93940</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">July 19, 2004 grant of Non-Employee Director Stock Options.  Options shall vest and become exercisable in four equal installments on each of (i) the date three months following the date of grant; (ii) the date six months following the date of grant; (iii) the date nine months following the date of grant and (iv) the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gerald J. Kitchen, as Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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