The Department of Enterprise is investigating whether Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina, which is an alumina refinery, is making products which is ending up in Russian military equipment.
There are around about 1,000 workers in the company’s supply chain and about 900 more in the wider economy.
The Government’s investigation into Aughinish Alumina is causing fear and uncertainty across west Limerick, writes Cian McCormack
There is fear in west Limerick, fuelled by the uncertainty of the unknown.
The unknown of what the Government’s investigation into Aughinish Alumina could recommend.
The fear of whether sanctions could be imposed and the fear of jobs lost along with the backbone of the local economy.
At 9am in Foynes, Breda Welsh is getting milk from the local shop.
She and her husband Gerard are heading back to their farm when they stop to speak to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
“The mood is worry and a bit of anxiety, definitely anxiety without question,” Breda said.
For Breda there is little doubt about what the refinery means to west Limerick.
“It’s important, very important economically, absolutely without question. The area absolutely benefits vastly from it,” she added.
The unease from the the couple is repeated time and again by people in the locality.
Not everyone wants to talk though. Some politely decline and others simply shrug and walk by.
“I don’t know enough about that.”
“There’s no one really talking about that around here.”
But among the majority, who do stop, there is a recurring view.
Locals fear what the Government’s investigation into Aughinish Alumina could recommend
People are worried about jobs, money, the future – the ‘what if’ the big alumina producer pulls out.
In Askeaton, it is clear that nobody defends Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The fear is that the economy and jobs centred on Aughinish could become collateral damage.
If they are gone, locals said, everything could fail. The local coffee shop, the pubs, local businesses.
Sean Moran, owns Moran’s Hardware, and feels that fear. His customers need money to buy what he sells.
“It’s mostly compost now. There’s lots of gardening going on in the good weather,” he said.
“People are worried,” he said. “I think people want to see the right thing done, but then you have to look, maybe sometimes look at yourself as well, you know?
“If we lose the factory or lose whatever, how are we going to suffer? It might be a bit selfish to look at it that way, but I think that’s the way people are looking at it,” he added.
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Saying that though, he is clear about the war waged by Russia.
“The damage that’s been done in Ukraine is obviously a concern to people as well. I suppose the ideal situation would be the factory to remain open with new customers,” he said.
Another man, who switches comfortably between Irish and English, said people are “on edge”, “ar bís”. A lot of money earned in Aughinish is spent in local businesses, he said. And, that is important. They would find it difficult to survive without it.
But he also said he has deep concerns if material produced in Limerick ends up supporting Russia’s war machine. He has environmental concerns too.
But the “drochscéal”, bad news, he said, would be the loss of jobs. If they disappear, it would be “a sorry day for the locals.”
For Limerick Leader journalist Nick Rabbitts, what is at the heart of local concern is jobs.
“There is real fear around jobs,” he said.
“Askeaton has in the last two years had a job shock itself with the closure of a Nestlé plant which produced baby formula. All those jobs were outsourced to China and Switzerland and we lost in the region of 500 jobs here.
“That was a massive blow,” he added.
Fianna Fáil councillor Ger Ward said he fears what could happen next
“It means now that for that west Limerick area, Rusal Alumina is the only company left standing effectively for mass employment.
“They employ 430 people but they also have hundreds more reliant on the factory for an income,” he said.
Business leaders argue the refinery’s importance stretches well beyond those directly employed. This is about the midwest. It is about the economy. It is about industrial and energy infrastructure.
Limerick Chamber Chief Executive Donnacha Hurley said Aughinish contributes around €140 million in gross added value to the Irish economy annually, while spending almost €700m on operations.
“A lot of businesses locally feel the benefit of that and how it’s spent locally in shops and activities,” he said.
He also pointed out that the refinery’s combined heat and power plant exports energy to the nation. Enough to power 200,000 homes.
He added that about 60% of all cargo tonnage moving through the Shannon Estuary is also connected to activity at Aughinish.
“It’s quite a critical fulcrum to the activity around the port facilities there,” he said, describing the plant as being of “crucial importance” to both the regional economy and infrastructure.
Those arguments featured prominently in briefing documents obtained by RTÉ News in May.
In those documents, the company warned the Government that any move to restrict alumina sales to Russia could threaten the refinery’s viability, with knock-on consequences for employment, electricity generation and financial support currently provided towards maintaining Ireland’s gas network.
Meanwhile, back in Foynes, Fianna Fáil councillor Ger Ward said he fears what could happen next.
“A huge loss of jobs, that’s the real fear,” he said.
Read more: Burke says can’t provide reassurances to Aughinish workers
Cllr Ward also disputes claims that it has been proven that material produced at Aughinish ends up supporting Russia’s war effort.
“There is no proof that any of this aluminium is actually being used in the war,” he said.
When it is put to him that investigations have identified links, he argues the same logic could apply to Irish exports such as beef.
“We’re a very small country and we need our jobs.
“We’ve done everything possible that we can for Ukraine. And I think coming after us for this is just completely ridiculous,” he said.
“I would say there is a certain cohort within the media that are doing their utmost to try and close Aughinish,” he added.
For now, the Government’s investigation continues, and so does the growing uncertainty and fear in Limerick.