$1.2bn refinery secured until 2030

THE future of the $1.2 billion (€873m) alumina refinery at Aughinish Alumina has been secured until 2030 at least, with the company commissioning a 195-acre development that has the capacity to hold over 17 million tonnes of bauxite residue or “red mud”.

The owners of Europe’s largest alumina refinery, RUSAL Aughinish, yesterday confirmed that partial commissioning of the site has commenced and will continue in 2012 and 2013.

A spokesman said: “It is a major milestone for RUSAL Aughinish in that it delivers bauxite residue storage capacity until the year 2030 at approximately 2 million tonnes alumina production per year. This milestone, the partial commissioning of the Phase 2 Bauxite Reside Disposal Area (BRDA), was achieved on schedule and within budget.”