DUSHANBE, July 27, 2011, Asia-Plus — Compared to the first half-year of 2010 aluminum production in Tajikistan has declined 16.7 percent over the first six months of this year, according to the Ministry Economic Development and Trade (MEDT).
Over the report period, Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) has reportedly produced 150,000 tons of primary aluminum, which is 30,000 tons fewer than in the same period last year.
Meanwhile, Tajikistan has exported 173,000 tons of aluminum for a total amount of US$440 million over the same six-month period, the source in MEDT noted.
Tajik aluminum smelter is expected to produce 390,000 tons of primary aluminum this year; last year, it produced 349,000 of primary aluminum.
Construction of the Tajik aluminum plant (TadAZ) began in 1972, and the first pouring of aluminum took place on March 31, 1975. On April 3, 2007, TadAZ was officially renamed to TALCO – Tajik Aluminum Company. TALCO is now one of the ten largest aluminum smelters in the world and provides up to 70% of the country’s foreign currency earnings, consuming some 40% of the country’s electrical power.
TALCO is wholly owned by the Tajik government. Tajikistan does not mine alumina but imports the raw material through tolling arrangements.
