EU Faces Pressure to Close Irish Alumina Loophole After Russian Arms Link

OCCRP reporting alleges that Aughinish Alumina, Europe’s largest alumina refinery in Ireland, has exported significant volumes of alumina to Russian smelters owned by Rusal; that refined aluminum made from that feedstock was later sold — reportedly totaling hundreds of millions of dollars — to a Moscow trader who supplied more than 40 EU‑sanctioned Russian arms companies. The investigation highlights a sanctions loophole (EU bans on Russian aluminum imports but not on alumina exports), prompting political pressure in Ireland and calls from EU lawmakers and experts to tighten and enforce sanctions to prevent European-produced raw materials from entering Russian military supply chains.