Attack fears grow over Russian-owned Limerick alumina plant with Ukraine war links
Gardaí and security officials fear the Aughinish Alumina factory in Foynes could be targeted by lone actors or groups over its Russian ownership and alleged war ties.
Garda intelligence unit monitoring Rusal-owned Foynes refinery amid attack risk
Gardaí and senior State security officials have significant concerns that the Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina factory in Foynes, Co Limerick, could become the target of a protest action or a direct attack, TheJournal.ie reports.
Two senior security sources said the renewed international focus on the plant's Russian ownership and its alleged role in supplying material for Russia's war against Ukraine has heightened the risk. Those sources said the threat could come from a lone actor or from organised groups opposed to the plant's ties to the Russian aluminium industry.
The Aughinish facility is already the subject of ongoing intelligence work by gardaí and other State agencies. A senior garda officer has been appointed specifically to liaise with the plant.
Explosive device previously found at site
The plant has been targeted before. Protesters daubed paint at its entrance on a previous occasion, and more recently an improvised explosive device was discovered on the premises. The device — gas canisters connected to a car battery — is believed to have been brought there by a disturbed suspect from Northern Ireland. Irish Defence Forces experts defused it.
Rusal ownership and Deripaska's Kremlin links
The refinery is owned by the Russian company Rusal, which has links to Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire oligarch and close associate of President Vladimir Putin. Deripaska was sanctioned by the United States in 2022 over Russia's annexation of Crimea. In the same year, the British government also sanctioned him following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Deripaska has resigned from his leadership roles at Rusal and has publicly criticised the invasion of Ukraine, but he remains a shareholder in the company. He continues to attend events at the Kremlin and, according to reports this week, has been among oligarchs who provided billions of euro to support Russia's war fund.
Rusal has continued to supply raw materials for the Russian war effort, a matter that has caused significant discomfort for the Irish government in recent weeks.
Alumina shipments at centre of controversy
The Aughinish plant, situated on the Shannon estuary near Foynes, is Europe's largest alumina refinery. It employs around 450 people and operates its own secure jetty, from which product is shipped directly to Russia on a regular basis.
The Irish Times reported that 83% of alumina from the Limerick plant went to Russia in the first quarter of this year. The Irish government disputed that figure, saying the factory had informed it the correct figure was 45%. The government has asked the Central Statistics Office to examine the matter.
An investigation by several European media outlets, including The Irish Times, further claimed that alumina shipments from Foynes to Russia were converted into aluminium at smelting plants there. That aluminium was allegedly then sold by a Moscow-based trader to weapons manufacturers.
Government balancing jobs against security and political pressure
The issue of continued trade with Russia has placed the Irish government under pressure both domestically and internationally. Sources said the government's approach has been to protect local employment while simultaneously managing broader political and security concerns.
The plant is said to support around 450 direct employees and hundreds of additional jobs in the surrounding area.
High-security installation with surveillance infrastructure
The Aughinish facility is described as a highly secure site. It operates a large number of security guards and advanced surveillance systems, including CCTV and cameras equipped with automatic number plate recognition software to monitor vehicles in the vicinity.
Environmental concerns also on record
Beyond the security dimension, the Aughinish plant has been the subject of ongoing environmental concerns. The EU has previously investigated "red waste" pools at the site. Environmental groups have raised concerns about large ponds holding bauxite residue, and several organisations have legally challenged planning applications connected to an expansion of the facility.
Source: TheJournal.ie