DUSHANBE, February 24, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- On Wednesday February 23, Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov held a meeting with participation of heads of relevant ministries and bodies to discuss issues related to preparation of pump stations for the irrigation season and reintroduction of the Sarband-based TajikAzot enterprise into operation, the source at the government said.

According to him, the prime minister ordered relevant ministries and agencies to take measures to reintroduce TajikAzot into operation by April this year.  He also ordered heads of the energy sector to take adequate measure to ensure regular supply of electricity and natural gas to this enterprise, the source said.

We will recall that TajikAzot has not been in operation for already two years due to large tax and energy debts.

Closed joint-stock company (CJSC) TajikAzot is the joint venture that was launched in March 2002 in cooperation with Highrock Holding Limited, the company registered in Cyprus in 2001.  The JV was established on the basis of the plant for producing nitrogen fertilizer (carbamide) that was constructed in Sarband in 1964.  Tajikistan owns 20 percent of the shares and Highrock Holding Ltd assumes the 80 percent ownership interest in TajikAzot.

The enterprise with capacity of producing 180,000 tons of carbamide per year also produced industrial oxygen, carbon dioxide, liquid ammonia and liquid nitrogen.