company lawsuits

Russia’s Rusal files suit against Rio Tinto over alumina refinery

Reuters

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Russia’s Rusal files suit against Rio Tinto over alumina refinery

RIO TINTO. A sign adorns the building where mining company Rio Tinto has its office in Perth, Australia, November 19, 2015.

David Gray/Reuters

The lawsuit challenges Australia's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which included wide-ranging sanctions against Russian firms and oligarchs

SYDNEY, Australia – Russian aluminum producer Rusal has filed a lawsuit against global miner Rio Tinto, seeking to win back access to its 20% share of the alumina produced at a jointly owned refiner in Queensland.

The lawsuit challenges Australia’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which included wide-ranging sanctions against Russian firms and oligarchs who had links with President Vladimir Putin.

Rio stepped in to take sole control of Queensland Alumina Ltd (QAL) in April, sidelining Rusal and cutting its access to the refinery’s output of alumina, a compound from which aluminum is derived. Rio owns 80% of the refinery, while Rusal owns the remaining 20%.

Rusal’s Australian unit Alumina and Bauxite Company said in an Australian Federal Court filing that the circumstances required for Rio to step in to take control did not exist and amounted to a breach of obligations, according to the court documents reviewed by Reuters.

Rio’s move at QAL came shortly after the world’s biggest iron ore miner severed all ties with Russian businesses over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine “a special operation.”

Australia banned the export of alumina and aluminum ores, including bauxite, to Russia in March.

In the filings reviewed by Reuters, Rusal’s subsidiary asks the federal court to restore its rights at QAL, and declare there would be no sanctions breach if its business continues there.

Rio declined to comment. Rusal, the world’s second largest aluminum producer, could not be immediately reached for comment outside usual business hours.

Rusal was not directly targeted by Australian sanctions, but Rio’s actions were triggered by sanctions on oligarchs Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg, who own stakes worth 25.6% and 8% respectively in Rusal.

In 2018, Rusal was covered by US sanctions against Russian businessmen and companies. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!