Aughinish Alumina exports

Position of Barry Andrews MEP

Reports that alumina exported from Ireland is finding its way indirectly to the Russian

war effort are deeply worrying.

The EU has adopted 20 packages of sanctions against Russia, to maximise pressure on

their economy. The sanctions are carefully targeted, proportionate, and temporary in

nature.

EU sanctions target Russia's financial, trade, energy, transport, technology and defence

sectors, as well as services provided to Russia or to Russian nationals.

Their key objective is to cause more negative impact on the Russian economy than

our own.

Aughinish alumina is not currently listed as part of EU sanctions, due to its importance

as a commodity to the European economy.

In consultation with my colleague Billy Kelleher MEP, I understand it supplies over 30%

of the alumina to smelters in the EU, EEA and UK and is classified by the EU as a critical

raw material.

Aughinish has never exported a majority of its production to Russia.

I am assured that Aughinish’s supply to UC Rusal in Russia amounts to only 10% of

Russia’s total alumina requirement. Russia has more domestic alumina production

than it consumes domestically. Rusal itself is an export company, exporting 75% to 80%

of domestic aluminium production to international markets.

Therefore, any trade restrictions would have a negligible impact on the Russian

economy or Russia’s ability to source alumina.

Sanctions on Aughinish, on the other hand, could clearly have devastating

consequences for the over 800 workers in the Limerick region and additional 900 jobs

supported by the company.

However, the European Commission must keep this issue under constant review, to

determine if Aughinish alumina should be placed on the EU sanction list. The company

itself should also review as soon as possible whether other export markets could be

found.

All of us who strongly support Ukraine must examine every way possible to undermine

Putin’s war machine.