Two Government departments are to review findings of an Irish Times investigation that highlighted links between Irish-made alumina and dozens of Russian weapons manufacturers.
It follows a commitment in the Dáil from Taoiseach Micheál Martin to examine the matter and a commitment by the Belgian government to close the “loophole” that allows alumina produced in Ireland to be exported to Russia.
There have also been calls from Opposition members and a prominent Ukrainian politician for a crackdown on exports of the material to Russia.
The investigation, carried out in co-operation with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and other European outlets, found that the Aughinish Alumina plant in Co Limerick is shipping vast amounts of alumina to smelters in Russia where it is used to make aluminium. This aluminium is then sold to a trading company, ASK, that supplies dozens of Russian arms manufacturers, according to leaked financial documents.
ASK sells aluminium to more than 100 companies that manufacture weapons and military equipment. These include the manufacturers of short-range ballistic missiles, which have caused hundreds of civilian deaths in Ukraine; Russia’s largest tank factory; and companies making components for Russian Sukhoi bombers and fighter jets.
Shipments of Irish-made alumina to Russia have increased significantly since 2020, despite the invasion of Ukraine and efforts to isolate Moscow on the international stage.
Russia is now Aughinish’s single biggest customer. It imported 68 per cent of the alumina produced at the plant last year, up from 23 per cent in 2020.
The Government has previously denied the plant plays any part in supplying material to Russia’s military industry.
Responding to questions in the Dáil on Tuesday, the Taoiseach said he was not previously aware of the links between Irish alumina and the Russia weapons industry.
He expressed concern about the findings and pledged to examine the issue and “try to get into the background to it”.
But he stressed Aughinish Alumina “is a very significant employer in the midwest and it supports hundreds of jobs directly and indirectly”.
It also “has a connection to the supply chain within Europe in terms of steel industry”.
The Aughinish Plant in Co Limerick is located close to the Shannon Estuary towns of Foynes and Askeaton and is owned by Rusal, a Russian company founded by oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Photograph: Alan Betson
A Government spokesman said it is taking the findings “very seriously and are looking into them”.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will be working with colleagues in the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to examine the issues raised.”
He said the Government “will continue to work closely with our EU partners to seek maximum impact of sanctions to pressure Russia to stop its illegal war.”
Belgian minister for foreign affairs Maxime Prévot said the findings were “extremely disturbing” and that Belgium would call for “loopholes” in the sanctions regime to be closed.
“We cannot support Ukraine with billions of euros on the one hand, and on the other allow European raw materials to feed the Russian arms industry,” he told the Brussels-based outlet De Tijd, a partner in the investigation.
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik called the findings “horrific and shocking” and said she would call on the Taoiseach to institute a review of links between Irish companies and Russia.
Speaking to the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Merezhko, who heads the equivalent committee in Ukraine’s parliament, said the supply of alumina to Russia is “totally unacceptable”.
“That’s why we hope that you will take this into consideration and will do everything you can to stop this from happening.”