'Powerful forces seem to be ranged against Aughinish,' Limerick mayor says as workers await report

John Moran emphasised the need for the publication of the report into Aughinish Alumina as the 'uncertainty is unsettling for Limerick'

Located on the Shannon estuary in rural Limerick, the Aughinish Alumina plant refines bauxite rock into alumina, which then gets shipped abroad. File picture: Dan Linehan

Limerick mayor John Moran said employees at Aughinish Alumina are being left in limbo as "bystanders" with a report into the plant still due to be published by the Government.

Earlier this month, Mr Moran wrote to the Taoiseach to call on the Government to make sure Aughinish Alumina workers are considered, as concerns around the future of the plant mount.

He claimed evidence that the plant is contributing to Russia's war effort in Ukraine is "unvouched", despite compelling investigative reports suggesting alumina from the Limerick plant is being sent to Russia, before being turned into aluminium and used to make weapons. 

Sanctions are now being mooted at EU level. Mr Moran said he remains concerned for the “staff, management, suppliers and communities of Aughinish Alumina who remain bystanders in the ongoing debate about their futures".

It comes as it was revealed that the Government is expected not to publish the long-awaited report before sending it to the European Commission. Mr Moran emphasised the need for its publication as the “uncertainty is unsettling for Limerick”.

“I have proposed to the Government that we establish a forum through my office once that report comes where Aughinish management, unions and suppliers can come together with the Government to plot a way forward for this vital plant. 

"The Government will need to powerfully lobby at EU level to ensure no sanctions get applied. Powerful forces seem to be ranged against Aughinish, and these need pushing back,” Mr Moran said.

The mayor said he has been making the case for "evidence-based decision-making" on the plant. “The plant is critical to Limerick and requires the Government’s robust defence and hard evidence, not unvouched claims.” 

Mr Moran added it would not be in Ireland's or Limerick’s interests to leave the sanctioning up to the EU.

“As we saw in last week’s sanctions debate on the latest European package that don’t thankfully include Aughinish, EU countries fought for their own interests. We will need to do the same. 

John Moran: 'The plant is critical to Limerick and requires the Government’s robust defence and hard evidence, not unvouched claims.'

"Before sanctions should be considered if they are on the table, other measures need to be looked at by the EU, including supervision of Aughinish’s orders in a workaround. This would be intrusive monitoring aimed at providing reassurance about the ultimate destination of alumina exports to Russia,” he said.

The Department of Enterprise is due to publish a statement outlining the government's findings on the plant.

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The factory is owned by Moscow-based Rusal, which itself is owned by EN+ Group, founded by sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Located on the Shannon estuary in rural Limerick, the plant refines bauxite rock into alumina, which then gets shipped abroad.

An investigation by The Irish Times and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), published in March, reported that material from it is sent to Russian smelters, where it is converted into aluminium used to supply manufacturers of the missiles, tanks and aircraft in the war against Ukraine.