An Irish alumina plant has been found to have ties to Russia’s defense supply chain despite operating within current EU rules, according to a cooperative review by the US-based Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and The Irish Times.
Alumina, or aluminum oxide, is a critical compound for producing aluminum metals used in aircraft, missiles, and vehicles.
The team discovered that exports of the material between Ireland and Russia have increased since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with shipments traced from the Irish company Aughinish Alumina to smelters in Siberia.
Aughinish Alumina is headquartered in Ireland’s western county of Limerick and currently operates as Europe’s largest alumina refinery.
The firm is owned by Rusal, a mining conglomerate located in Moscow and founded by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.
While Deripaska remains under Western sanctions following the conflict, the Irish plant itself is not allowing production to continue legally.
Distributor in Russia
Observers said that processed alumina materials from Siberia are being sold through Aluminium Sales Company (ASK), a trade firm based in Russia’s Tagansky District.
Leaked financial data suggests ASK then supplies metal to defense contractors, including missile and weapons manufacturers associated with Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Between 2022 and 2024, a significant share of ASK’s revenue came from defense-related contracts.
No Breach
While the links do not violate EU sanctions, specifically the ban on Russian aluminum imports in 2025, investigators have warned that the activities expose gaps in enforcement.
One analyst emphasized such flows “could undermine NATO’s stated goals,” adding that even legal trade can still feed military supply chains.
Responding to the probe, Aughinish maintains it follows “robust” adherence to EU regulations.
“We uphold a strong commitment to lawful and responsible business practices and continuously monitor regulatory developments to ensure the highest standards of compliance,” The Guardian quoted an Aughinish representative as saying.
