DUSHANBE, August 31, Asia-Plus — “Tajik government’s decision to break the agreement on long-term cooperation with Rusal is the real necessity,” known Tajik economist, Professor Khojimuhammad Umarov, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, it was obvious for the very beginning that Rusal does not intend to build the Roghun plant. “I think that there is also fault of our government in this; before concluding the contract the government should had analyzed goals of its partner,” Umarov said.
He said that chill that hit relations between the Tajik government and Rusal could negatively impact Tajik Aluminum Company or Talco (formerly Tajik Aluminum Plant. “Rusal, which is the world’s largest aluminum producer, may impede Talco on the world aluminum market.”
Tajik researcher added that breaking of the contract of Rusal should not hurt relations between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation. “We have enough opportunities to cooperate with Russia in other directions as well,” he said.
Professor Umarov believes that Tajikistan could complete the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station on its own. “It is possible, but it will take some 15-20 years,” said the researcher, “We could construct two generators with national funds and then realizing electricity generated by the station to complete the construction of Roghun.”
