Australia bans alumina exports to Russia

• Australia imposes an immediate ban on exports of alumina and aluminum ores (including bauxite) to Russia as part of its ongoing sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine
• In a joint statement from several ministries, the Australian government said the move will limit Russia’s capacity to produce aluminium, a critical export for Russia
• Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a press conference held Sunday that Australia would donate at least 70,000 tonnes of thermal coal and further military equipment to Ukraine to as part of a new aid package
• The aid package includes $30 million in emergency humanitarian assistance
• The Prime Minister also said it would provide additional support to help Ukraine’s government beat back the Russian invasion and care for those impacted by the violence

Australia has imposed an immediate ban on exports of alumina and aluminum ores (including bauxite) to Russia as part of its ongoing sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

In a joint statement from several ministries, the Australian government said the move will limit Russia’s capacity to produce aluminium, a critical export for Russia which relies on Australia for nearly 20 per cent of its alumina needs.

Additionally, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a press conference held Sunday that Australia would donate at least 70,000 tonnes of thermal coal and further military equipment to Ukraine to “support the brave and courageous resistance” as part of a new aid package that also includes $30 million in emergency humanitarian assistance.

“[It’s] a critical input into weaponry, including guns, ammunition and missiles. Our decision here should say very clearly that to all countries, all companies operating in Australia, we are watching these things very, very carefully,” Mr Morrison said.

He added that the ban demonstrated Australia’s “absolute commitment to holding the Putin regime to account.”

Mr Morrison said a ship was due to arrive in Australia from Russia this week to pick up a shipment of alumina, a key component in aluminum smelting, but has said “[the] boat is not going to Russia with our alumina”.

It was reported that the Australian government is working with Australian coal companies to source supplies, with Whitehaven Coal quickly arranging a shipment which the Ukrainian and Polish governments will deliver “at the earliest available opportunity”.

The Prime Minister also said it would provide additional support to help Ukraine’s government beat back the Russian invasion and care for those impacted by the violence.

Last week, Australia imposed sanctions on two Russian oligarchs with links to its mining industry.

One of them is billionaire Oleg Deripaska who holds stakes in QAL, a joint venture between Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and Rusal International, the world’s second-largest aluminium producer.

Rio Tinto has since said it was cutting ties with Rusal as part of its overall withdrawal from Russia.

Australia has so far imposed a total of 476 sanctions on 443 individuals, including businessmen close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and 33 entities, including most of Russia’s banking sector and all entities responsible for the country’s sovereign debt.