EU sanctions on Russia to exclude Aughinish alumina, says EU foreign affairs chief

EU foreign affairs chief says sanctions loopholes must close while Ireland awaits findings of Aughinish investigation

Taoiseach Micheal Martin meeting vice-president of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, in Government Buildings during her visit to Dublin. Picture: Government of Ireland/PA Wire

New EU sanctions on Russia will include alloys and metals, but will not include alumina produced in Limerick, the bloc's foreign affairs chief has said.

Kaja Kallas was speaking during a visit to Dublin on Tuesday and said that no EU product should end up supporting Russia’s war effort.

“Alumina is not currently covered by the EU sanctions," said Ms Kallas.

"Europe must close all loopholes, tighten sanctions enforcement, and ensure our commitment are backed by these. No European products should end up with bombs and missiles that kill Ukrainian civilians."

In March, The Irish Times and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project published an investigation examining Aughinish’s alleged role in supporting Russia’s military industry.

The report highlighted claims that the Limerick alumina refinery exported large quantities of alumina to Russia, where it is smelted and used by manufacturers producing weapons deployed on the Ukrainian frontline.

Recent CSO figures appeared to show that 200,619 tonnes, or 83% of Aughinish’s total exports, were shipped to Russia during the first quarter of 2026. However, mnterprise minister Peter Burke said those figures were "inaccurate".

He said the discrepancy emerged during an ongoing Department of Enterprise investigation into Aughinish’s alumina exports and that the CSO data was being corrected.

The minister said the investigation would provide further information on what Aughinish’s alumina “is doing and where it’s going”.

He said he did not have a timeline for completion of the report but hoped it would be finalised “shortly”.

Ms Kallas said the EU would trust the Irish investigation, but that further examination was needed into the types of materials being used by Russia.

“I think this case shows that we should also look into this, that the material that Russia needs to continue with its war, whether it’s different types of metals, or it’s the oil refinery products that they need, we need to look, and we have to be creative in coming up with next sanctions, because our aim means that this war will end, and it will also end if the aggressor runs out of money or material to continue."

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee and European Commission vice president Kaja Kallas speak to the media at Iveagh House in Dublin.Picture: Grainne Ni Aodha/PA Wire

Asked why Aughinish was not included in the sanctions package, Ms Kallas said the question of doing more was one the EU remained aware of.

“We have a huge list of companies included, also crypto that we haven’t had in that amount before, [and] oil refineries,” she said.

“It is always a question, what more can we do?”

Speaking in the Dáil, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he had met Ms Kallas and that the Government would "work with" the bloc.

"We will work with the European Commission in respect of Aughinish. We are conscious that there are approximately 1,000 people directly depending on it for jobs. It is not going to be simple. If a call is made one way or the other the repercussions will be what they will be. 

"I do not think it should be sugar-coated to say there is a magical way to find a solution to this, and everything will be all right on the other side. We are not in that space. 

"We will engage with the European Commission because there was a view that Aughinish is important for the alumina supply chain in Europe."

Ms Kallas also said she had been briefed on Ireland's priorities for its EU presidency, which begins on July 1, and said they “reflect exactly what Europe needs”.

“Europe must remain a principled global actor. But principles alone are not enough. Europe must also have the hard power to defend them. That means investing in our security,” she said.

“Ireland’s proud tradition of military neutrality is not in question but neutrality does not provide immunity from the threats Europe faces today.

“No country in Europe is off Russia’s target list.”