DUSHANBE, January 30, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan plans to have increased production of primary aluminum by 10%-15% this year, Economic Development and Trade Minister Ghulomjon Boboyev remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 29.  

According to him, the Tajik Aluminum Plant (TadAZ) in 2006 produced 414,000 tons of aluminum, which has been the highest indicator over the past several year.  

“In the near future, we plan to reach a rated capacity of the plant through modernization of TadAZ workshops,” the minister said, adding that the plant also plans to arrange production of finished goods. 

“Tajikistan currently receives alumina from three traders,” Boboyev said.  

On an agreement reached between TadAZ and Norway’s Hydro Aluminium last December, the minister noted that TadAZ and Hydro had previously been involved in a complex business dispute and by that agreement the sides had settled the dispute and reached positive accord.  

We will recall that under the agreement signed in Dushanbe on December 20, Hydro Aluminium will buy 800,000 tons of primary aluminum from the Tajik Aluminum Plant over the next four years and will annually provide TadAZ with 150,000 tons of alumina.    

According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), aluminum last year accounted for 75 percent of Tajik exports, and alumina in 2006 accounted for 22.4 percent of Tajik imports.