DUSHANBE, January 28, 2010, Asia-Plus — In 2009, Tajikistan produced a total of 360,000 tons of aluminum, which is some 40,000 tons fewer than in 2008, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Farrukh Hamraliyev said.
He noted that over the report period, the country exported 348.7 thousand tons of aluminum for 589.5 million U.S. dollars. The minister reminded that in 2008, Tajikistan exported 399,400 tons of aluminum for 1.13 billion U.S. dollars.
Hamraliyev stressed that the international price of one ton of primary aluminum fell from US$2,557 in 2008 to US$1,691 in 2009. “In November-December last year, the international price of one ton of aluminum increased to US$2,000 and today, it shows an upward tendency,” the minister noted, adding that rise in aluminum price will promote improvement of the country’s economic situation.
Tajik aluminum plant, which is run by the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO), is Tajikistan”s chief industrial asset. The country has no native aluminum ore, so the raw material for the plant has to be imported. Construction of the plant began in 1972, and the first pouring of aluminum took place on March 31, 1975. Tajik aluminum smelter reportedly consumes 40% of the country”s electrical power.
