Australia ban on alumina exports to Russia increases uncertainty for Aughinish in Limerick

That has put Rusal's plant on the Shannon Estuary in Co Limerick in the spotlight

The Aughinish Alumina Refinery on the Shannon Estuary near Foynes, Co Limerick. The huge smelter, which employs 450 people, had a few years ago been under threat under a previous round of sanctions targeting Rusal founder Oleg Deripaska,

Australia’s ban on alumina exports to Russia is heaping more pressure on aluminum company Rusal and pushing up prices of the most widely used base metal.

Aluminum jumped and Moscow-based Rusal’s shares dropped after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the immediate ban. Australia supplies almost 20% of Russia’s alumina, the key ingredient for producing aluminum, and its exports of aluminum ores, including bauxite, to the country have also been prohibited.