Aughinish Alumina has been given a green light to expand the disposal facility at its large Limerick site, two years after the High Court quashed the previous planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála.
The Russian-owned company faced opposition from environmental groups and local farmers to the project, which seeks to increase the size of its bauxite waste dump on the Shannon.
In August 2022, An Bord Pleanála had initially approved the plans for the deposition of an additional 8m cubic metres of bauxite residue and 22,500 cubic metres of “salt cake” — which is a mix of aluminium oxides, aluminium nitrides, metal and salts — at a 222-hectare site on Aughinish Island.
Aughinish Alumina Limited employs more than 400 staff at the Co Limerick alumina refinery, which is the largest of its kind in the European Union. The alumina, extracted from imported red earth ore called bauxite, is shipped to France and Sweden for smelting to make aluminium.
However, campaigners Futureproof Clare took a case in the High Court against the approval, and this case was not contested by An Bord Pleanála.
At the time, Futureproof Clare spokeswoman Sinead Sheehan described it as a “huge win for any grassroots organisation faced with major environmental concerns in terms of polluting industries”.
However, the group did concede that Aughinish would be free to relodge an amended planning application and this was lodged in October 2023.
Issuing its decision earlier this week, An Bord Pleanála green lit the plans once again.
In a lengthy report from an An Bord Pleanála inspector, it concluded the development “would not have significant negative effects on the environment, would not give rise to a risk of pollution, would not seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity, would not be detrimental to the visual or landscape amenities of the area, and would not interfere with traffic safety”.
This was despite a slew of concerns raised about the project.
Futureproof Clare again lodged its objection to the project, with solicitors FP Logue writing to the planning board.
It said assumptions underlying the risk assessment and engineering design reports submitted by the applicant were “fundamentally flawed”, based on “historical data” and failed to “account for the identified impacts of climate change”.
“That analysis [in its environmental impact assessment report] obviously favours Aughinish Alumina Ltd who wish to continue with their operations and not have to cease or alter them in light of what is known about climate change,” it said.
The Cappagh Farmers Support Group, meanwhile, raised concerns about the impact on locals from “red dust” or “red mud”.
In one incident, they said residents’ homes were “completely coated in the red dust which is left over after the alumina is extracted from bauxite rock during the manufacturing process” following a storm.
The group did concede the company carried out a clean-up and offered to power hose any properties affected.
However, it added: “An Bord Pleanála will have nowhere to hide if an environmental disaster happens here, whether it’s in 2022 or within years to come.”
In granting permission, the planning board set a condition that a community benefit fund be established to support facilities and services that will benefit the community in the local area.
