DUSHANBE, July 11, 2014, Asia-Plus – In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Sijouddin Salomzoda, the head of the Main Directorate for Safety of Works in Industry and Mining under the Government of Tajikistan, revealed on July 11 that nearly 65 percent of electrolysis baths at Tajik aluminum smelter are now not in operation

“Tajik aluminum smelter has decreased aluminum production over the first six months of this year,” said Salomzoda.  “618 electrolysis baths, or nearly 65 percent of the overall number (980), are now not in operation.”

According to him, the number of workers has reduced by 30-35 percent.  “12,000-13,000 people had previously worked at the plant while today their number decreased to 8,000,” Salomzoda said.

He attributed reduction in aluminum production to financial and raw material supply problems.  “The neighboring country puts obstacles in the way of delivery of alumina to Tajikistan,” the head of the Main Directorate for Safety of Works in Industry and Mining noted.

According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) has produced 36,000 tons of primary aluminum over the first three months of this year, which was 60 percent fewer than in the same period last year.  Decrease in aluminum production has reportedly resulted from the fall in the international aluminum prices.

According to prognostic data from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, aluminum production in Tajikistan will fall to 150,000 tons this year.

We will recall that Tajikistan last year produced 216,400 tons of primary aluminum, which was 20.6 percent fewer than in 2012.  In 2013, Tajikistan exported 197,000 tons of 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.

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.