Aughinish Alumina, Europe's largest alumina plant and operated by UC Rusal, has reapplied for planning permission to expand its alumina red mud storage on the banks of the Shannon Estuary.
Environmental group Futureproof Clare said it was firmly opposed to the expansion proposal, claiming it did not have proper planning or a sustainable vision.
Initially, An Bórd Pleanála, an independent, statutory, quasi-judicial body, approved the project's expansion last year. But Futureproof Clare later appealed to the High Court to challenge the consent.
According to data, the Aughinish Alumina Plant’s first application for a permit to expand the alumina red mud storage can be traced back to December 2021. The area is prepared for storage of remaining bauxite residue.
The Aughinish alumina plant has also applied for permission to expand the borrow pit (a quarrying area) and expand the existing salt cake treatment basin. Salt cake is a by-product of the aluminum recycling process.
The High Court quashed the expansion application in May 2023, and Aughinish Alumina subsequently reapplied to An Bórd Pleanála for expansion, attaching an environmental impact assessment report and a Natura impact statement.
According to Rusal’s official website, the plant’s built production capacity so far is 1.99 million tons.
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