DUSHANBE, February 6, 2014, Asia-Plus - According to the preliminary data of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), Tajikistan is expected to reduce aluminum production to 150,000 tons this year.

The First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Nematjon Bouriyev, told journalists on February 6 that reduction in production of primary aluminum in Tajikistan results from the fall in international aluminum prices.

“An average international price for one ton of primary aluminum fell from 2,016 U.S. dollars in 2012 to 1,830 U.S. dollars in 2013,” the deputy minister noted.

Last year, the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) produced 216,400 tons of primary aluminum, which was 20.6 percent fewer than in 2012.

Tajikistan’s aluminum exports last year fell to 197,000 tons, which is 24,500 tons fewer than in 2012.

Tajikistan relies heavily on the aluminum smelter''s earnings.  Official data show aluminum accounted for 48 percent (544.4 million U.S. dollars) of all Tajik hard currency export revenue in 2013 (8 percent decrease compared to 2012).

The TALCO-run aluminum plant was launched in late March 1975.  It is one of the ten largest aluminum smelters in the world.  Tajikistan does not mine alumina but imports the raw material through tolling arrangements.

The government endorsed the plan for restructuring the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) last year.  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.