AUGHINISH Alumina, based outside Askeaton in County Limerick, has been suspended from the ex-ante market in line with a decision by European Commodity Cleaning (ECC), a clearing house for commodity products.
EirGrid, Ireland’s largest electricity grid, confirmed the news about Europe’s largest alumina refinery, located off the N69 in Askeaton.
In a statement to the Limerick Post, EirGrid said that it is “currently reviewing the implications of this development” but emphasised that “Aughinish Alumina have not been taken offline and remain connected to the transmission system”.
The Single Electricity Market (SEM) ex-ante markets provide day-ahead and intraday markets for the buying and selling of wholesale electricity by generators, supply companies, and traders.
These markets are operated in Ireland by SEMOpx. ECC is the clearing house which, on behalf of SEMOpx, provides for the financial clearing and settlement of the SEM ex-ante markets with all market participants.
Aughinish Alumina remains active in the capacity and balancing markets and remains connected to the transmission system.
The Rusal-owned refinery employs over 500 people at it’s West Limerick base, and the government is working closely with Aughinish Alumina following the decision.
A spokesperson for The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Department of Enterprise told this newspaper that they are aware of the suspension, and “are reviewing the implications of this development with Eirgrid and CRU.”
Aughinish Alumina has been contacted for comment.
