# What does a Limerick refinery have to do with a Russian sanctions row?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-explainer-1063834/what-does-a-limerick-refinery-have-to-do-with-a-russian-sanctions-row
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-explainer-1063834/what-does-a-limerick-refinery-have-to-do-with-a-russian-sanctions-row.md
Podcast: [The Explainer](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-explainer-1063834)
Published: 2026-06-11T11:28:10+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/the-explainer/episodes/why-is-a-limerick-refinery-the-focus-of-a-russian-sanctions
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/66f2a0897a3d63d20ff54509/e/6a2a9ae4438158000bd68485/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-explainer-1063834/episodes/what-does-a-limerick-refinery-have-to-do-with-a-russian-sanctions-row
Duration seconds: 1089

## Resource

Alumina is the fine white powder needed to make aluminium, and Ireland is home to Europe's largest producer of it. Aughinish Alumina's ownership by Russian giant Rusal has put the Limerick plant under intense scrutiny, with a recent investigation tracing its product all the way to the Russian military. Niall O'Connor, News Correspondent with The Journal, joins us to explain who owns the refinery, how its alumina allegedly ends up in Russian weapons, and what it all means for the hundreds of people who work there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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