Prospect of sanctions hits Russian part-owner of Queensland alumina refinery

A satellite image of Gladstone, showing a bridge linking an island to the Queensland Alumina Limited refinery. Sanctions against Russia could hit Rusal and disrupt the aluminium industry, Rio Tinto has warned. Photograph: OLI/Landsat 8/Nasa

The prospect of sanctions is hurting the Russian part-owner of one of Australia’s largest alumina refineries, Queensland Alumina Limited, while the refinery’s majority owner, Rio Tinto, has warned of a looming “disruption” to its aluminium business.

QAL, which operates a refinery in Gladstone, is 20% owned by the Russian aluminium giant Rusal, which has previously been hit by US sanctions in 2018, implemented in response to the country’s “malign activity around the globe”.