Aughinish Alumina complained to EU about 'lack of access to public funds'

Aughinish Alumina, the Co Limerick-based refinery owned by Russian metals giant Rusal, has complained to the European Commission about its struggles to shift away from fossil fuels, citing a "lack of access to public funds." Notes from private discussions reveal the company lobbied EU officials in Brussels, highlighting the absence of public funding available for its decarbonization efforts as part of Europe's carbon neutrality goals.

During a meeting with an EU official last year, Aughinish Alumina presented its situation. The company, which produces 1.8 million tonnes of alumina annually, with half sold to EU customers and the other half to Russia, explained that its climate transition plan had already involved switching to natural gas. However, "the company explained the difficulties to advance further due to lack of business case for electrification, and lack of access to public funds," according to minutes from the May 20, 2025, meeting.

The company's appeal was made to Joan Canton, an official in the commission focused on industrial policy. This lobbying comes amid scrutiny of Aughinish Alumina's role in supplying Russia's military. An investigation revealed the plant ships large quantities of alumina to smelters in Russia, where it is used to produce aluminum for Russian arms manufacturers.

Despite pressure from Estonia for EU sanctions against the plant, the Irish government has argued that such measures would harm European industries. The European Commission has not included Aughinish or its alumina exports in its proposed sanctions against Moscow. In its discussions with the commission, Aughinish Alumina also presented "initial ideas" about potentially producing gallium, a critical raw material for semiconductor chips, which can be a byproduct of aluminum production.

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The company explained the difficulties to advance further due to lack of business case for electrification, and lack of access to public funds.