OREANDA-NEWS  On 23 October was announced, that Ascon Ltd. begun construction of the 80 hectare RUSAL Aughinish Bauxite Residue Disposal Area (BRDA) extension.  This project is the largest civil project undertaken at Aughinish since the plant was commissioned in 1983. The BRDA Phase 2 extension is essential to ensure that production at the plant can continue beyond 2010 when the existing storage capacity will be exhausted. All of the civil materials such as rock, estimated at almost 750,000 tonnes and glacial till (clay) will be sourced on-site.

The project has taken many years of planning with authorisation required from Limerick County Council and An Bord Pleanala (the national planning authority) as well an operating license from the Environmental Protection Agency. RUSAL Aughinish has also had several meetings with our neighbours in order to keep them informed and to maintain good will.

Extensive landscaping will take place to minimise the visual impact of the BRDA.  This includes moving the topsoil from the new Phase 2 BRDA and using it to landscape the existing BRDA.  In addition 80,000 trees will be planted around the site.

The phase 2 BRDA is expected to be commissioned in April 2010.

Information on UC RUSAL’s production facility

RUSAL Aughinish is an alumina refinery situated on Aughinish Island on the south side of the Shannon estuary near Foynes, 20 miles downstream from Limerick city, in the Irish Republic. Production commenced in 1983. The plant produces over 1.8 million tonnes of alumina per annum and employs over 450 permanent employees, working in a team based organization.