DUSHANBE, November 25, 2008, Asia-Plus — Tajik Aluminum Company (Talco) remains one of Tajikistan’s largest taxpayers and its payments to the national budget are increasing from year to year, press release issued by Talco on November 25 said.
The press release, in particular noted that the company has transferred more than 240.2 million somoni (TJS), equivalent to 70 million US dollars, to the country’s budgets of all levels over the first ten months of this year. Over the report period, the Tajik aluminum smelter has produced 333,000 tons of primary aluminum.
In all, the company is expected to have transferred more than 279.8 million somoni (equivalent to US$84.3 million) to the budget this year, which is 194 million somoni (US$56.7 million) more than in 2003, according to press release. This year, tax payments have been made at the rate of 611.1 somoni (US$178) per one ton, while in 2003, the tax payments were made at the rate of 211.9 somoni (US$69.2) per one ton.
The company states that the data shows that tax load on Talco has increased from year to year and has reached a critical level this year. According to press release, because of tax payments set at the rate of US$178 per one ton Talco goes under to strong competition from other aluminum groups; thus, aluminum companies from other CIS states make tax payments at the rate of US$40-US$50 per one ton.
Press release notes that Talco consumers up to 35 percent of the overall volume of electrical power generated in the country. In 2008, monthly payments for electricity have amounted to 9.5 million US dollars that amounts to nearly US$115 million per year. Besides, Talco has financed electricity supplies from Turkmenistan through providing US45 million. “In 2007, Turkmenistan supplied 1 billion kWh of electricity to Tajikistan while this year, Turkmen electricity supplies to the country are expected to amount to more than 1.2 billion kWh,” said press release, “Expected expenditures on electricity will amount to some US$160 million.”
Talco also pays for electricity supplied from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as well as assumes part of expenses on ensuring generation of electricity by the Dushanbe heat and power station and rehabilitation of the Yovon heat and power station, press release. The company has spent more than US$20 million on these stations so far.
