DUSHANBE, January 25, 2012, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan has reportedly reduced aluminum production by 15 percent.
In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Homidullokhon Faqirov, revealed on January 25 that Tajikistan produced some 280,000 tons of primary aluminum last year. Compared to 2010 the index of the volume of production of aluminum amounted to 85 percent. In 2010, Tajikistan produced some 350,000 tons of aluminum.
In mid-2011, Tajik Aluminum Company (TACLO) noted that it plans to produce 390,000 tons of primary aluminum by the end of 2011.
Faqirov attributes decrease in the aluminum production to a sharp fall in temperatures in February-March last year. “Because of a sharp fall in temperatures in February-March 2011, electricity supplies to Tajik aluminum group were reduced,” said the deputy minister. “During this period, the aluminum smelter could not operate in full capacity that led to the decrease in production volume.”
To add to the cold weather, there were also some problems with delivery of refinery coke, the deputy minister said.
Only a small part the aluminum Tajikistan produces is processed into manufactured goods in the country, while the remainder is exported for manufacturing outside the country, Faqirov noted. “A new cable production plant that was introduced into operation in Dushanbe last year now uses some 10,000 tons of primary aluminum for its needs,” said he. “There are also several other inconsiderable enterprises in the country using primary aluminum.”
TALCO is one of the ten largest aluminum smelters in the world and provides up to 70% of the country’s foreign currency earnings, consuming 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.
We will recall that 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.
