DUSHANBE, November 30, Asia-Plus - The Ministry of Industry seeks buyers for the country’s largest chemical enterprise, open joint-stock company (OJSC) Tajikkhimprom (the Yovon chemical plant), according to the Ministry of Industry.   

Deputy Industries Minister, Jabbor Rasulov, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that at present the plant is operating only 8 percent of its rated capacity.  According to him, some 30 million U.S. dollars are needed renovate the plant’s building and rehabilitate the production process.   “The ministry has offered Kazakh and Russian companies to invest in rehabilitation of the plant but no investor has so far been interested in this offer,” Rasulov said, noting that the republic is not able to rehabilitate the plant on its own.  Therefore the government is seeking buyers for the plant, “and it is not so significant whether the plant will be privatized or the sides will decide to launch a joint venture.” 

According to the deputy ministry, frequent natural gas and electricity shortages have caused serious damage to the country’s chemical industry.  “The recent sudden shortages will seriously affect the countries industrial sector,” Rasulov said, noting that the Tajik-Cypriot joint venture TojikAzot received a notification about strict electricity cutback that will inevitably result in serious damage for venture.

“Potential investors see all these problems and therefore are not in hurry to invest in the Tajik chemical industry,” Rasulov said.   

According to the Ministry of Industry, Tajikistan’s chemical industry includes seven enterprises: Tajik-Cypriot JV TojikAzot; OJSC Tajikkhimprom; joint-stock company Tamokhush; joint-stock company Nilufar; limited liability company Ravshan and the OJSC Farfor (china wares).