DUSHANBE, February 11, 2009, Asia-Plus — Tajik Aluminum Company (Talco) yesterday released a statement over an article titled “Ravobiti Nek bo Russia ba Manfiyati Milli Most” (Good Relations with Russia Are for the Benefit of Our National Interests) by member of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda that was published in the Dushanbe weekly,
Farazh
, on February 5.
In the statement, Tajik aluminum group expressed disagreement with position of Mr. Turajonzoda over the fate of the Tajik aluminum smelter.
Speaking in an interview with
Farazh
, Turajonzoda noted that proceedings from its national interests, Tajikistan ought to sell the aluminum plant the Russian Federation that would allow the national budget to receive additional considerable funds.
In the meantime, Talco notes that receipts to the republican budget from payments made by Talco are increasing. In 2005, Talco transferred 135 million somoni in taxes and other payments to the country’s budget, while in 2008, this figure reached 270 million somoni, according to the statement. In 2004, Talco paid 11 million US dollars for electricity supplies, while last year, the company’s electricity supply payments exceeded 100 million US dollars, the statement noted.
On the preferential terms created by the government for Talco, the statement noted that Russia’s aluminum company RusAl, for example, now paid 0.15-0.85 cent for 1 kWh of electricity, while Talco currently paid for electricity supplies at the rate of 1.5 cents per 1 kWh. “RusAl pays taxes at the rate of 45 US dollars per one ton of primary aluminum, while Talco pays taxes at the rate of 197 US dollars per one ton of aluminum,” the statement said.
