Carbon tax threat to major aluminium plant

THE future of Europe’s largest aluminium plant, which is based on the Shannon Estuary, will be threatened by the carbon energy tax, the company claimed yesterday.

Aughinish Alumina's public affairs manager, Pat Lynch, said the fate of the company, which employs 700 people, will be under serious threat if the Government fails to recognise the group's unique position when it is implementing EU directives on gas emissions and carbon energy taxes.

The warning comes in the wake of government plans to introduce carbon taxes towards the end of 2004, which will dramatically increase all fuel and transport costs.