Irish firm’s production threatened by civil war in Africa

A THREATENED civil war in Africa could hit raw material supplies to a Limerick plant, putting 700 jobs at risk.

Aughinish Alumina imports millions of tonnes of bauxite ore from the west African country of Guinea, which is on the brink of war as union leaders demand that President Lansana Conte step aside in favour of a national unity government.

Aughinish Alumina processes the imported ore into alumina, a fine powder substance which is exported and smelted into aluminium.