Aughinish investigators did not obtain Swedish document available for €25 fee
An Irish government investigation into Aughinish Alumina failed to access key Swedish documents regarding the plant's ownership by a Russian oligarch. Despite the documents being publicly available for a small fee, the investigation concluded without definitive evidence regarding the end-use of the plant's aluminum.
Why it matters
The report raises questions about the efficacy of government oversight and the enforcement of sanctions against Russian-linked entities.
A Government investigation into Aughinish Alumina said it was unable to obtain confidential documents from Sweden showing the plant is owned by a Russian oligarch.
This is despite the judgment being publicly available from Swedish authorities in return for a €25 fee.
The investigation was launched by the Department of Enterprise last March following disclosures by The Irish Times that Irish alumina is being sold in large quantities to smelters that sell finished aluminium to a company supplying the Russian arms industry.
The Government has declined to release a report on the findings of its investigation, but a copy obtained by The Irish Times states there is not enough evidence to conclude Irish alumina is ending up in Russian weapons. However, there is also not enough evidence to rule it out.
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