Ireland reviews Aughinish Alumina refinery amid EU Russia sanctions

The Irish government is conducting a review of the Aughinish Alumina refinery in County Limerick to determine whether its operations comply with European Union sanctions on Russia. The plant, owned by Russia‑linked Rusal, continues to operate while officials coordinate with the European Commission and await possible tightening of sanctions on Russian‑controlled industrial assets. Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the review will consider the impact on local jobs, the environment and the wider European alumina supply chain, and that findings will be discussed with the Commission. Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris echoed the need for consistent sanctions but stressed that facts must be established first. The review follows a media investigation linking the refinery’s alumina exports to Russian smelters and a Swedish assessment confirming Rusal remains under the control of sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska. The government expects to conclude the assessment within weeks.