DUSHANBE, February 12, Asia-Plus  -- Severe electricity shortages have led to a 20 percent reduction in electricity supplies to the Tajik aluminum smelter, and therefore, Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) has been forced to suspend 34 of 990 electrolysis baths from operation, according to TALCO’s press service.  

            The aluminum plant now receives electricity supplies at the rate of little more than 16 million kWh per day, while before that, the supply of daily electricity to the smelter had been 21 million kWh, the press service said.  

            “Because of a 4 million kWh reduction the plant’s administration has been forced to gradually disconnect 34 electrolysis baths from the power supply; moreover, current intensity in other baths has been reduced by 176 to 148 kiloampere,” the source at TALCO’s press service said.

            The Tajik aluminum smelter has some 990 electrolysis baths.