Kokkola aluminium project linked to Russian supplier

A proposed aluminium plant in Kokkola, Finland, one of the country’s largest industrial projects, has ties to Russian aluminium through its CEO’s past business dealings.

Torbjörn Sternsjö, head of Arctial, the company behind the multi-billion-euro plant, previously worked in senior roles at Swedish aluminium producer Gränges, which sourced metal from Kubal, a Swedish refinery owned by Russian aluminium giant Rusal, Yle reports.

Gränges and Rusal signed a cooperation agreement in 2021 to develop aluminium for electric vehicles, though Sternsjö states he was not involved in the deal. Gränges has since confirmed it no longer purchases aluminium from Kubal.

Sternsjö denies ever meeting Rusal’s founder, oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a close ally of Vladimir Putin. Deripaska, who has faced international sanctions, has stepped back from a visible role at Rusal.

Swedish police arrested two Kubal executives in March on suspicion of serious sanctions violations. Despite this, Rusal remains a major supplier in Europe, producing an estimated half of the alumina—critical for aluminium production—used on the continent in 2025.

Arctial is currently negotiating with multiple suppliers for alumina for the Kokkola plant, with no final contracts yet signed.