Independent firm could review Government report on Limerick shipments to Russia
Enterprise Minister says ‘suspicion is not evidence’ in relation to Aughinish Alumina claims
THE European Commission could request an independent company to review a Government report which found no evidence that exports from Limerick were supporting Russia's war effort.
That’s according to Enterprise Minister Peter Burke, speaking following the Government's investigation into Russian-owned firm Aughinish Alumina which employs 430 people in Limerick.
He confirmed the long-awaited report — which will not be made public — made "no adverse findings” in relation to the export of alumina to Russia by the company from West Limerick.
Mr Burke this Friday said: “We haven’t reached the evidentiary threshold and suspicion is not evidence. When you are dealing with sanctions, you need a legal basis. I need to come forward with evidence which reaches a threshold which can stand up in a court of law. That’s a difficult threshold to meet.”
For its part, Aughinish Alumina has consistently said it complies with all applicable sanctions and laws.
The Government probe was launched following claims by a consortium of European journalists that shipments from Aughinish were being sent east and feeding Russia's war effort in Ukraine.
“We have had assurance from Aughinish Alumina that the alumina which goes into Russia is separated into compartments due to an export taxation relief the company gets. We have documentary evidence which supports that and the majority of the alumina is exported as aluminium back into Russia and other countries which includes the European Union (EU),” Mr Burke added.
But he indicated the report could be independently reviewed.
“There is potentially the opportunity to look to an independent company which has global supply chains, which has a century of experience in verifying logistics and supply chains right throughout the globe. This company could potentially ascertain the validity of what Aughinish Alumina has said in relation to the exporting of the raw material out of Russia,” the minister told RTE Radio One’s Morning Ireland show.
The Enterprise Minister said around 27% of Aughinish Alumina’s market share has been lost due to “reputational damage” caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The investigation comes against the backdrop of fears for jobs in Limerick, where Aughinish Alumina — controlled by Rusal — is a lynchpin of the local economy.
Management at Aughinish Alumina have indicated that any sanctions on the plant could jeopardise its operation in Limerick.
Despite this, Mr Burke has said Government has never “lobbied” for the firm at European level.
“We have had 21 packages so far in relation to sanctions on Russia. The Irish Government has never lobbied on behalf of Aughinish Alumina as has been suggested in some quarters. When the 16th sanctions package came in February 2025, aluminium was sanctioned. Ireland at no stage stood in the way,” he said.