DUSHANBE, March 31, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan’s largest cement producer, Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant), has stood idle since March 28, when natural-gas supplies to the plant were cut off. 

Gas supplies were cut off due to Tojikcement’s debt to Tojikgaz (Tajik state natural-gas distributor), the source at Tojikcement said.  According to him, the plant now owes $800,000 to Tojikgaz.  

In the meantime, the Tojikgaz director general Fathiddin Muhsiddinov told Asia-Plus Saturday afternoon that the gas supplies will resume only after the plant repays its debts.  He also noted that another large gas debtor is Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric system) power holding, which currently owes $7 million to the state natural-gas distributor.