DUSHANBE, February 15, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Two mini cement plants are expected to be introduced into operation in Tajikistan this year, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI).

The source at a MoEI says one of those mini cement plants with capacity of 70,000 tons of cement per year has been built in the Kharangon area, Varzob district.  “Limited liability company, Tojikiston, and a number of local entrepreneurs have invested in the construction of this plant,” he said.

Another mini cement plant, Sughd-Cement, with capacity of 100,000 tons of cement per year is being built in Mastchoh district, Sughd province.

In the meantime, Tajikistan’s current annual requirements in cement are more than 1 million tons.  Last year, Tajikistan produced 288,000 tons of cement, including 260,000 tons produced by Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant), and imported some 500,000 tons of cement, the source added.

Six cement plants now operate in Tajikistan.  Tojikcement with rated capacity of 1.1 million tons is the country’s largest cement plant; the enterprise, however, now operates only at 20-25 percent of its installed capacity due to depreciation and gas shortages.

According to specialists from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), the construction sector’s requirements in cement increase by 40 percent annually.