Limerick firm issues assurance about supplies to Russian military chain
Rare intervention from Russian owned company over supply chain
AUGHINISH Alumina has said it has upgraded its monitoring processes to ensure no materials manufactured in Limerick are supporting the Russian war effort.
The firm made the rare public intervention on the day it emerged that a Government-commissioned investigation made “no adverse findings” in relation to the export of alumina to help the Vladimir Putin-led conflict with Ukraine.
“Our framework involves independent, third-party verification by a competent global authority who will monitor the alumina flows from Aughinish and subsequent export out of Russia of the aluminium produced from Aughinish’s alumina in Russian smelters. This will provide enhanced, third party verifiable evidence to the Government and the European Commission that the alumina from Aughinish which enters Russia, and the subsequent aluminium produced from this alumina has no connection whatsoever to the Russian military supply chain,” the company, which is owned by Russian energy giant Rusal, added in a statement.
The company, which employs a reported 475 people in Limerick, and has a huge number more relying on its massive operation for a job, confirmed it will continue to co-operate with any investigations.
These have come after reporting by a consortium of European journalists which suggested that exports emanating from West Limerick were finding their way into the Russian military complex.
“Aughinish would like to recognise the continued commitment and focus of all who consider Aughinish their place of work, as well as our suppliers, neighbours and the wider community during the recent media attention and review,” the company added.