DUSHANBE, April 17, Asia-Plus – As a result of electrical power shortage that hit Tajikistan’s Aluminum Company, TALCO, (formerly Tajik aluminum plant or TadAZ) in February-March, the company has produced 5,459 tons of aluminum less than it was originally planned and incurred losses of $15.2 million, press release issued by TALCO said.
According to TALCO, in February, it received electricity supplies 14 million kWh less and in March, this figure reached 79.4 million kWh. Thus, over the past two months, TALCO has received power supplies 93.4 million less than its due, press release said.
“Despite these negative factors, the company has remitted to bank account of Barqi Tojik power holding $18.3 million over the first quarter of 2007, which is $10.6 million more than in the same period of last year,” press release said.
According to press release, following the rise in electricity prices from 2.66 dirams to 3.6 dirams per one kWh (staring from February) the company will need to find additional $7.7 million to fulfill its annual target determined at 420,000 tons of raw aluminum that will lead to a $18.3 increase in cost price of one ton of aluminum.
“Over the same three-month period, an external trade turnover of TALCO has amounted to $540.4 million, which is 123.6 percent of the January-March 2006 level or $130.2 million more. The trade balance was positive and amounted to $11.8 million,” press release said.
Over the report period, TLCO has produced 100,420 tons of primary aluminum.
