#ShannonEstuary -  A private meeting between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and management of the Russian-owned alumina producing plant in Askeaton, Co Limerick, was held yesterday as “concern” mounted over the plant’s continued operations, and the future of its 450 workforce.

As The Irish Times reports, Aughinish on the shores of the Shannon Estuary, is the largest alumina refinery in Europe.

Owned by Rusal, the Limerick facility is facing an uncertain future, after severe trade sanctions were imposed by the US Treasury Department on Rusal’s owner Oleg Deripaska, on April 6.

Mr Varadkar confirmed he met with Aughinish management representatives Sean Garland and Damien Clancy in Limerick on Friday.

Mr Varadkar said: “I’m aware of the situation. I spoke to Sean Garland on the phone last week and I met him this morning. The government are very very much aware of the risks, and we’ll do everything we can to assist the company, and to ensure that it can continue to operate as normal.”

To read more on this development, click here. 

Afloat adds that bulk-carriers for example Arklow Mill (see full view photo) of the 'M' class sisters are regular callers to the mid-western industrial plant.  

In addition the Irish flagged member of the 50 strong Arklow Shipping fleet that is shared with a Dutch division (see newbuilds update) has involved Arklow Mill export the finished product, alumina, for further processing through smelting.

As previously reported the bulk-carrier has called to Grundartangi, a smelting plant located north of the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik.