'There is no doubt': One of Europe's top diplomat's stance on whether the Aughinish Alumina plant is aiding Vladimir Putin's war effort is made clear as Ireland's 'moral duty' is questioned

Published: 00:28, 27 July 2026 | Updated: 00:28, 27 July 2026 The deputy head of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has demanded that the European Commission investigate whether material processed at Aughinish Alumina is being used in Russia’s war with Ukraine. According to Estonian MEP Urmas Paet, officials in Brussels need to do their own probe, after Taoiseach Micheál Martin revealed this week that an independent report commissioned by the Government failed to find evidence proving Russia was making weapons from materials made at the Co. Limerick factory. Last night, Mr Paet told the Irish Mail on Sunday that Ireland has a moral duty to lead by example while we hold the EU Presidency for the next six months. ‘There are still too many unanswered questions,’ he said, adding: ‘The European Commission should also give an overview about what is right and what is wrong. ‘On the one hand, the Irish Government says one thing. On the other hand, documents show something else. It is obvious there is ongoing business with Russia. There is no doubt. Last night, Mr Paet told the Irish Mail on Sunday that Ireland has a moral duty to lead by example while we hold the EU Presidency for the next six months One of the co-founders of Rusal is an associate of Vladimir Putin President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) shakes hands with Taoiseach Micheal Martin during their meeting in Kiev this weekend Up to 1,000 people are employed at the Co. Limerick factory ‘I have seen all the documents which shows this and they say part of their [Aughinish Alumina’s] exporting is in relation to Russia. ‘This discussion has been going on months and months, so if it is white or black that this company is not exporting to Russia, then it should be very clear on this. ‘There is no convincing material that I have seen which says that there is zero business with Russia.’ Up to 1,000 people are employed at the Co. Limerick factory which is Europe’s largest alumina refinery, and another 900 work with firms that do business with the plant, which is owned by Russian company Rusal. One of the co-founders of Rusal is an associate of Vladimir Putin, Oleg Deripaska. The pair are so close Deripaska was placed on a US sanctions list in 2018. Four years later, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK government also imposed sanctions on him. At least 50 per cent of the alumina processed at the plant is exported to Russia. In recent months, it’s been questioned whether some of it is used by Russian arms companies to make weapons to kill people in Ukraine. Last month, the MoS revealed Ireland was one of the few countries that has failed to enact EU laws to impose stiff penalties against those breaching sanctions against Russia. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.