DUSHANBE, December 17, 2013, Asia-Plus – The Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) has denied a report released by a number of foreign media sources that a blast allegedly occurred at the electrolysis workshop of Tajik aluminum smelter in Tursunzoda on December 1.
centrasia.ru, in particular, reports that the blast was allegedly caused by low-quality aluminum raw materials, cryolite alumina and other chemical elements delivered from Azerbaijan and TALCO is going to file suit against partners from Azerbaijan.
17 people were reportedly hospitalized with various burn wounds. The damage caused by the blast is reportedly estimated at more than 250,000 U.S. dollars.
Meanwhile, Igor Sattarov, a spokesman for TALCO, has denied the report as absolutely “baseless.”
We will recall that Tajik President Emomali Rahmon held a working meeting on December 16 to discuss issues related to operation of the Tajik aluminum smelter
Top managers of the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) reported on the company’s activities and noted that ongoing financial crisis and the fall in the international aluminum prices had affected aluminum production in many countries.
Speaking at the meeting, the president underlined significance of TALCO activities for Tajikistan’s economy and ordered relevant ministries and agencies to take measures to ensure undisturbed operation of the aluminum smelter.
Tajikistan is Central Asia’s biggest producer of primary aluminum. Tajikistan relies heavily on the smelter”s earnings.
The aluminum plant, run by the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO), was launched in late March 1975. It is one of the ten largest aluminum smelters in the world and provides more than 70% of the country’s foreign currency earnings, consuming 40% of the country’s electrical power. Tajikistan does not mine alumina but imports the raw material through tolling arrangements.
