China set to assist Tajikistan in modernising Tajik Aluminum Company

Eurasianet reported on May 20 that China is set to assist Tajikistan in completing several major infrastructure projects, including modernising the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO), the country's largest industrial enterprise. TALCO has recently increased its output, producing over 66,000 tonnes of primary aluminium in 2023, marking a 7 per cent rise from the previous year's total. 

Chinese and Tajik officials signed a protocol

Earlier in May, Chinese and Tajik officials reportedly signed a protocol during an intergovernmental meeting in Beijing, detailing plans for China to assist Tajikistan in several significant projects. These include the modernisation of TALCO, infrastructure developments in Dushanbe, the construction of a logistics centre in Danghara, and the upgrade of a highway in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) to facilitate Europe-bound truck cargo from China.

China's Deputy Commerce Minister, Lin Zi, was quoted by the Avesta news agency as stating that the bilateral relations between China and Tajikistan had reached a "qualitatively new level" Following the signing of the protocol. This significant development, although not specifying construction timelines or the extent of financial assistance, underscores the importance of China's assistance to Tajikistan's infrastructure projects.

Despite the positive outlook, TALCO's economics director, Pavel Dyck, highlighted in April that the company's growth is being hampered by production bottlenecks, and they are actively seeking an investor. The company projects that production will increase to 84,000 tonnes in 2024. On May 19, following a two-day visit by China's top diplomat to Tajikistan, officials from both countries signed a cooperation program for 2025-26, indicating TALCO's commitment to future growth and development.

About TALCO

TALCO, widely regarded as Tajikistan's economic cornerstone, has been on an upward trajectory, evidenced by a 7 per cent surge in aluminium production in 2023, reaching over 66,000 tonnes.  Projections signal a further increase to 84,000 tonnes in 2024, prompting Pavel Dyck, the plant's economic director, to emphasize the urgency of addressing existing production bottlenecks. Dyck's remarks allude to the critical necessity of securing an investor to facilitate continued growth.

The Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) is one of the ten largest aluminium smelters in the world and the only aluminium-producing plant in Central Asia. The Tajik government wholly owns TALCO. While Tajikistan does not mine alumina, it imports the raw material through tolling arrangements.

Construction of the Tajik aluminium plant, known initially as TadAZ, began in 1972, with the first aluminium pour occurring on March 31, 1975. The smelter has a rated capacity of 517,000 tonnes of primary aluminium annually. On April 3, 2007, TadAZ was officially renamed the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO).