DUSHANBE, January 23, — In 2005, the Tajik Aluminum Plant (TadAZ) reached 95.4 percent of the rated electrolyze capacity, for the first time since 1991, and produced 381,700 tons of aluminum. Compared to the determined target for 2005, the index of the volume of Tajikistan’s aluminum production amounted to 101.1 percent and compared to 2004 the index of the volume of aluminum production amounted to 106 percent.
According to Muboraksho Makhshulov, a high-ranking official with the Tajik Ministry of Economy and Trade (MET), the aluminum production increased by 32,700 tons year-on-year and raked in $563 million.
The aluminum industry is the Tajikistan”s main source of income. Due to increase in production of aluminum there was nearly US$50-million increase in Tajikistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2005.
According to the source in the TadAZ, the revenue part of the plant’s budget for 2005 got 112 million Somonis (US$35.8 million). “This index was reached even despite sudden increase in prices of alumina and fuel,” the Asia-Plus interlocutor said. The received profit has gone to developing social infrastructure of the plant, including the construction of residential buildings and schools, according to the source.
The source says the plant’s administration takes environmental impact into consideration and in 2005, 13.426 million Somonis were provided to minimize influence on the environment, which is 9.249 million Somonis more compared to 2004.
An average monthly wage of employees at the plant increased by 25 percent, which is one of the highest indices in the republic.
TadAZ remains the largest taxpayer in the republic. “In 2005, the plant transferred to the country’s budget 157.5 million Somonis (equivalent to US$50.5 million), which is 61 percent more compared to 2004,” the source in the plant’s administration said.
“In 2005, the plant consumed 6.5684 billion kWh of electricity for an amount of 169.4 million Somonis and 95.5 million cubic meters of natural gas for more than 14.7 million Somonis,” the source said, noting that the plant paid more than 135 million Somonis to the “Barqi Tojik” [Tajik electricity] open joint-stock holding company for electric power imported from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in the autumn-winter period.
TadAZ has worked out an investment program on technical modernization for 2006, according to the source. An estimated budget for the implementation of this program is more than US$19.7 million.
