European Aluminium has called on the European Union to ban aluminium produced in Russia, but not EU-based companies owned by Rusal.

Rusal is the world’s second largest aluminium producer with headquarters located in Moscow.

It is one of the biggest aluminium exporters to Europe, but has faced challenges amid Russia’s continued war in Ukraine.

The EU has been in discussion for months about whether to place sanctions on Russian aluminium.

The loss of Russian aluminium to the EU market would lead to a shortfall of around 500,000 tonnes.

Most of Rusal’s aluminium is produced in Russia, but it does have operations in Ireland, Sweden, Jamaica, Guinea and China.

“The principle behind EU sanctions has been to try and do as much as possible to undermine the Russian war machine without creating harm to European industrial and by extension, societal interests,” Paul Voss, Director General of European Aluminium.

“In a perfect world we would say we don’t need any of Rusal’s material and take a firm moral position regardless of the practical consequences. But European governments do not and cannot afford to reason that way. They have to be pragmatic.”