US sanction threat on Russian President puts Aughinish alumina refinery’s jobs at risk

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has reportedly put an alert that the threat of sanctions on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin could take a toll on Rusal’s Aughinish Alumina refinery, Europe’s largest bauxite refinery, in County Limerick.

Aughinish Alumina refinery employs nearly 900 people at its plant near Askeaton, and is owned by Russian aluminium giant Rusal, which was earlier targeted by the US for sanctions in 2018.

While addressing the cabinet on January 25, Minister Simon Coveney said Europe could be facing its first land war in many decades, and Ireland could a victim of the crisis if sanctions were to follow. 

Minister said that sanctions as counterattack for any military action could be having an impact on companies like Aughinish and affect deliveries of Russian coal to the Moneypoint power station. Retaliatory sanctions could also affect globally networked financial services and aircraft-leasing sectors, added Simon Coveney.

Recently, the management at Aughinish alumina refinery stated in a planning application An Bord Pleanála that a number of new developments would be required to ensure that production at the Askeaton plant could continue beyond 2030. 

The company added in the application that the closure of Askeaton facility of Aughinish alumina refinery would result in a significant loss of highly-skilled employment opportunities. 

The refinery is also reportedly seeking permission to increase the height of the residue disposal area for two of its by-products – bauxite residue and salt cake.

There are 482 full time employees in the refinery and 385 contract staff employed at the facility.