Alternative route established between Azerbaijan & Tajikistan to supply alumina to TALCO

An alternative route has been established from Azerbaijan to Tajikistan for the supply of alumina and other raw materials. This has been done specifically to meet the needs of the Tajik Aluminium Company (TALCO), the Tajik embassy in Azerbaijan reported to Trend on Friday, October 5.

The new route opened is through Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan for reaching Tajikistan from Azerbaijan and thus bypasses Turkmenistan.

The reason behind establishing this alternative route is the temporarily closed transit through Turkmenistan. Trucks with Azerbaijani raw materials have been standing idle on the Iranian-Turkmen border for past 50 days, reported a source at TALKO, adding that the parties are looking for alternative ways to supply raw materials from Baku through the ports of Aktau and Kuryk in Kazakhstan.This information was further confirmed by a representative of the port of Aktau.

There was also an appeal on this issue from TALCO to KTZ express on the provision of tariffs and confirmation of the possibility of alumina transhipment. However, as per the report by the port’s representative, they are waiting for further information on the scope to determine the possibility.

However, neither Talco nor the Embassy of Tajikistan knows the reasons for the creation of obstacles by the Turkmen side.

Diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and Azerbaijan were established on May 29, 1992, based on business agreements in the trade and economic, banking, tax, cultural and investment spheres. The Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan Nematullo Hikmatullozoda had also expressed interest on behalf of Tajikistan for close cooperation with Azerbaijan in the production and further export of aluminium.