NEW MADRID COUNTY, Mo. (KFVS) - An aluminum smelter plant in southeast Missouri could close its doors, according to a letter from plant management shared with Heartland News on Wednesday, January 24.
In the letter addressed to all Mag7 employees, plant managers state operations will be reduced over the next three to five days, and “most employees will no longer be required after January 28.”
They cited “abnormally cold weather” as impacting operations at the plant.
According to the letter, they have tried to find potential investors and will continue to look for ways to restart the smelter.
Hundreds of workers found out on Wednesday morning they’re losing their jobs.
“Can you imagine if I tell you, pack this up, you gotta go. That’s horrible,” said Mag7 operator Kenneth Starr.
He has been with the company since 2019. Starr wishes the company gave them a notice before announcing a significant reduction in operation.
“That’s my livelihood,” he said. “You could’ve at least gave up some time to prepare. That’s 400 to 500 people fighting for their jobs. That are about to be fighting to get a job.”
Several employees recorded the announcement, which was made at a meeting Wednesday morning.
Many were hanging their heads low learning in just days, they could be unemployed.
“Pray for us man. Mag was a good job, I just hate how it folded how it did,” said Mag7 worker Chavis Goodwin.
He told us they heard about the potential plant reduction before the announcement.
“They been saying stuff around the mill for some days now,” Goodwin said. “It was just rumors at first, but today, it really hit us so it’s been kinda sad today.”
He said the reduction at Mag7 will have a ripple effect.
“It’s a lot of people that depended on this job and a lot of families that are about to be hurt behind this,” Goodwin said.
But Goodwin said he will adjust to whatever comes next.
“It’s gonna be a big change because I really depended on this job.,” he said. “It’s gonna affect us pretty tough.”
And when it comes to the next step for these workers, Starr said it has taken a toll on his mental health.
“My mind, I don’t know what I’m gonna do,” he said.
We talked with New Madrid’s city administrator, who said it will affect the entire region.
“It is always a big impact when something like this happens,” Aaron Griffin, city administrator, said. “And we are striving to bring more jobs to the area. I think there are a lot of businesses in the area that are hiring. And whatever the city of New Madrid can do to help facilitate that, we are more than happy to do so.”
Griffin said leadership in his community will continue working with their state representatives and the Missouri Department of Economic Development to attract new industry to the region.
We reached out to plant owner Matt Lucke about what led to the decision. He responded via email, saying, “We don’t make comments. Sorry.”
State Senator Jason Bean (R-Holcomb) and Representative Donnie Brown (R-New Madrid) released statements on Wednesday.
“Representative Brown and I will be in contact with the governor, the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to bring any available resources to New Madrid during this time of transition,” Sen. Bean said.
“The workers and their families are in our thoughts and prayers,” Rep. Brown added. “We need to support the families here in town, and we are committed to working hard to bring any resources the state of Missouri may have to support the citizens affected by today’s news.”
Magnitude 7 Metals is an aluminum smelter plant located on the site of a former Noranda plant in New Madrid County, Mo. It opened in March 2018 and employs more than 450 people.
In 2020, state met with owners after reports came out the smelter was in jeopardy and could close.
In December 2023, an advocacy group held a meeting, concerned the plant would close because of high energy costs, that’s according to an industry trade publication.
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