Peter Turner

An appeals court has backed a decision by six Rio Tinto units to refuse delivery of alumina to Russia’s largest aluminium producer because it would run afoul of sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Russia’s largest aluminium producer UC Rusal has lost a breach of contract lawsuit brought against six Rio Tinto companies after they refused to deliver alumina under a joint venture agreement on the basis that doing so would cause them to run afoul of export sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The divisive issue of whether judges are empowered to make a common fund order to distribute the costs of a funding commission at the settlement stage of a class action is headed back to the Full Federal Court next week.