DUSHANBE, February 13, 2015, Asia-Plus – Rahmon has replaced top manager of the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO).

By president’s decree Sadriddin Sharipov was relieved of his post of Director of the Tajik Aluminum Company in connection with transfer to other job.

He was replaced with Abdurahmon Jourayev, formerly head of the foundry at the Tajik aluminum smelter.

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 some 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.