Europe’s largest alumina refinery ‘Auginish Alumina’ receives approval for extension of an extraction facility

Europe's largest alumina refinery and a major alumina asset of RUSAL, Aughinish Alumina has received approval for its proposal for an extension of its large plant near Foynes, Limerick County to be considered under the fast-track planning process for large strategic projects.

The independent, statutory, quasi-judicial body that decides on appeals from planning decisions made by local authorities in the Republic of Ireland, An Bord Pleanála has ruled that the proposal for extension of an extraction facility at one of the most globally technologically advanced and energy-efficient alumina refinery can be considered for strategic infrastructure development. This signifies that the company can apply directly to the board for planning permission without first having to apply to Limerick City and County Council.

Aughinish Alumina had asserted that the project was of strategic economic importance to both the State and the Midwest region of Ireland.

It highlighted that the European Commission has reckoned that bauxite was a critical raw material in Europe because of its role in the aluminium “value chain”.

Rusal’s Aughinish Alumina refinery wants to expand the height of its large bauxite residue disposal area (BRDA) which covers an area of 183 hectares. It professes the increased height will deliver an additional nine-year capacity for storing bauxite residue at the facility and grant for the disposal of 1.59 million tonnes per annum.

It notified that the current permitted BRDA will overflow by 2031 and operations of the refinery could be restricted.

The alumina refinery is also looking for approval for an extension of its existing disposal area for salt cake, a hazardous waste by-product of the refinery process for dissolved bauxite.

It will hardly accommodate an additional 22,500m³ or three years extra capacity.

Furthermore, planning permission is being sought to double the size of an area known as a “borrow pit” to 9.1 hectares from which rock is extracted for use in the ongoing development of the BRDA.

Since 1983, the refinery has been in operation on Aughinish Island and is

The company, which has operated its plant on Aughinish Island since 1983, is empowered to produce up to 1.95 million tonnes of alumina each year through the treatment of bauxite ore.

It holds the production share for about 33% of all alumina produced in Western Europe each year. Rusal acquired the refinery in 2007 and which has valued its Irish facility at just under €2 billion, employs about 460 people as well as 220 long-term contractors.

Aughinish Alumina’s operating licence is under review by the Environmental Protection Agency. An Bord Pleanála ruled that any application for planning permission must be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Natura Impact Statement because of the site’s proximity to several protected EU habitats including the Lower Shannon Special Area of Conservation.