DUSHANBE, April 19, 2013, Asia-Plus -- The Government of Tajikistan has endorsed the plan for restructuring the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) and the restructuring process is expected to end in 2014.

Under the restructuring plan, the State Unity Enterprise TALCO, the State Affiliated Enterprise Aluminsokhtmon and its lower enterprises will be divided into several enterprises and the government will assumes the 100 percent ownership in them.

During this year, TALCO should work out and implement the plan of actions on raising work efficiency, increasing the volume of production and processing of primary aluminum, attracting investments and introduction of state-of-the-art technologies.

In 2013-2015, the company will enlist the services of international consulting companies to ensure technical development, financial renewal and compliance of production with international environmental standards.

The restructuring plan also includes construction of to enterprises for production of cryolite and aluminum fluoride, conducting feasibility study for construction of Shurob hydroelectric power plant (HPP) and evaluation of technical re-equipment of production.

In 2012, TALCO produced 272,500 tons of primary aluminum, which was 2 percent fewer than in 2011.  Tajikistan’s aluminum exports over the first ten months of 2012 fell to 221,500 tons, which was 12,300 tons fewer than in the same period in 2011.  The country’s aluminum exports reportedly declined due to the fall in the international aluminum prices.

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 up to 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.