EU Commission Not Sanctioning Aughinish Alumina to Russia Due to Industry Impact
The European Commission will not sanction Aughinish Alumina's supply to Russia, fearing negative impacts on European industry. An investigation revealed the Irish plant, owned by Russia's Rusal, supplies alumina for Russian arms manufacturing. Despite calls for sanctions, the EU and Irish Government prioritize avoiding harm to the EU economy.
The European Commission currently has no plans to propose sanctions on alumina supplied to Russia by Aughinish Alumina. This decision is due to concerns about the potential negative impact on European industry.
An Irish Times investigation, in cooperation with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, revealed that the Aughinish Alumina plant in Co Limerick ships large quantities of alumina to Russian smelters. This alumina is used to produce aluminum, which is then sold to ASK, a trading company supplying dozens of Russian arms manufacturers. Rusal, the owner of Aughinish, has strong ties to the Kremlin and Russia’s arms industry.
Despite calls from MEPs and others to target Aughinish exports to Russia in EU sanctions, the plant is not expected to be included in the upcoming 21st package of measures. The plant employs nearly 1,000 people directly, with another 1,000 in supporting companies. EU officials and the Irish Government are concerned that sanctions on alumina or the Rusal-owned plant, a major supplier to European heavy industry, would harm the EU more than Moscow. Belgium’s foreign minister, Maxime Prévot, has stated he will push for sanctions on the plant at the EU level. The Irish Government holds veto power over any EU sanction targeting the Co Limerick plant.