Environmental activists gathered outside the Four Courts in Dublin this week to protest the proposed expansion of the Aughinish Alumina refinery in County Limerick. Demonstrators were there to support a judicial review brought by Environmental Trust Ireland, which challenges the expansion on environmental grounds.
Campaigners argue that the refinery plans to increase the height of its red mud waste storage facility from 36 metres to 44 metres. The waste, a byproduct of refining bauxite into alumina, contains toxic substances and is stored in large ponds near the Shannon Estuary. Activists say parts of the original ponds were not fully lined, allowing contaminated water to seep through limestone beneath the site and into groundwater and the estuary.
The company has said that without expanding the facility, it will run out of capacity to store waste by 2030.
Concerns about the refinery have existed for decades among nearby communities. Local farmers have reported health problems affecting both people and livestock, including respiratory issues and unexplained animal deaths. Activists also point to “red dust” – fine particles of bauxite residue that can blow from the waste ponds – which they say has been detected far from the site and may contain hazardous substances.
Campaigners have criticised previous investigations by Irish authorities, which concluded that there was no proven link between the refinery and reported health problems in the area. They argue that these inquiries failed to fully address the concerns raised by residents.
Opponents of the expansion also highlight the refinery’s environmental impact, noting that it is currently one of Ireland’s largest greenhouse gas emitters. They also warn about the risks associated with tailings dams, particularly given the site’s location near the estuary and the increasing threats posed by rising sea levels and extreme weather.
The judicial review aims to stop the expansion from going ahead, with activists calling for stronger environmental protections and greater scrutiny of the project. Protesters say they will continue demonstrating outside the Four Courts while the case is being heard.