Aughinish Alumina is the largest alumina refinery in Europe and the largest of the alumina facilities operated by UC RUSAL. The plant was built between 1978 and 1983 and had an initial rated capacity of 800,000 tonnes a year. It represented an investment of USD 1 billion in the Irish economy. The refinery started processing imported bauxites into alumina in September 1983. The average annual contribution of Aughinish Alumina to the local economy exceeds EUR 100 million. The current annual capacity of the refinery is in excess of 1.8 million tonnes of alumina. Aughinish has always been to the forefront in terms of technology in the industry. Year after year it implements the most modern technologies available to ensure it remains one of the top alumina producers in the world.