Objections to plant's plans to dump '5,000 double-decker buses' of mud into Shannon Estuary

If the application were to succeed, the Aughinish Alumina plant would be allowed to dump almost 668,500 tonnes of dredged material over an eight-year period

The Aughinish Alumina plant on the Shannon Estuary, Co Limerick, which failed in its plans to expand its red mud bauxite residue disposal area last year.

Residents and environmentalists have objected to a Russian-owned refinery’s application to dump the equivalent of “5,000 double-decker buses” filled with mud into the Shannon Estuary.

Futureproof Clare is one of the groups opposed to a bid by the Aughinish Alumina plant, to renew its permit for the loading and dumping of dredged material, as part of its maintenance operations.

If approved, Europe’s largest bauxite refinery —  which is situated in Askeaton, Limerick — would be given the green light to dump 668,454 tonnes of dredged material over an eight-year period.

This would mark a significant increase on the current licence, which allows the refinery to dump up to 128,000 tonnes at sea over eight years. This permit expires on August 31.

If the objections lodged with the EPA succeed, it will be the second blow in as many years for Aughinish Alumina.

Last year, the plant failed in its plans to expand its infamous red mud bauxite residue disposal area by 12 metres.

Both Futureproof Clare and the Environmental Trust Ireland had lodged separate, but successful, legal challenges against the An Bord Pleanála decision to grant permission for the expansion.

Futureproof Clare’s Emanuela Ferrari said: “If the EPA grants Aughinish this licence to dredge and dump, it will amount to the equivalent of 5,000 double-decker buses of potentially contaminated muddy sand every year.

“Futureproof Clare is concerned about the rampant industrialisation of the Shannon Estuary and the proliferation of polluting industries in the area.

The organisation fears the proposed increase in dredging would detrimentally affect the seabed habitat.

“Moreover, the operations — which will take place for 21 days at the time if approved — would cause significant noise disturbance, coupled with the possibility of increased pollution from the machinery used, during at-sea refuelling activities.

“All this has potential detrimental effects on the wildlife in the area, which is one of the most important sites within Europe for bottlenose dolphins.”

A submission from the Drumgossatt-Knocknacran Residents Group states: “The sheer volumes of material applied for to be disturbed and dumped in the environment will have a significant impact on marine life and possibly on human health.”

The Environmental Trust Ireland said it is concerned that, despite Aughinish wanting a more than five-fold increase in dumping volume, there has been “no justification offered for this massive increase”.