Months before Century Aluminum of West Virginia announced it could possibly close if the company can't cut costs or aluminum prices don't stabilize West Virginia University conducted a study on the company's impact on the state.

Randall Childs, research assistant professor in the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research and lead author of the report, said they found nearly 1600 jobs would be affected if the Ravenswood plant shuts down.

This is 667 jobs directly with Century and 910 jobs that Century generates in other West Virginia businesses.

"It (the study) does not go forward so it does not count any potential jobs that may or may not be lost at facilities that use the goods provided by Cenutury," Childs said.

A spokesman for Century Aluminum said the company's largest customer is Alcan Rolled Products, which makes aluminum for the aerospace industry. It is located next to Century in Ravenswood.

Alcan declined to comment.

According to the study, "Century's presence in the state in 2007 generated a total business volume impact (or revenue) in excess of $579 million that supported nearly 1600 jobs and $111 million in employee compensation."

Childs said that the company's business volume resulted in $5.9 million in assorted state taxes, including personal income, consumer sales, use, corporate net income and business franchise taxes.

To read the full report log on to the link listed with this article.