Tajikistan has increased cement production.

Over the first nine months of this year, Tajikistan has produced more than 1.5 million tons, which was 37.1 percent more than in the same period last year (in January-September 2015, Tajikistan produced 1.1 million tons of cement), according to the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MoINT).

An official source at a MoINT says introducing new cement plants into operation in Vahdat, Bobojonghafourov and Yovon has promoted increase in cement production and cut in cement prices in the country.   

In January-September this year, “Huaxin Gayur Cement” plant has produced more than 1 million tons of cement, Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant) has produced 188,000 tons of cement and Limited Liability Company TajChina has produced 146,000 tons of cement

In a statement delivered at a meeting with representatives of Tajik business community and investors in Dushanbe, Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda noted on October 14 that over the past five years, Tajikistan has increased cement production from 200,000 tons to 1.5 million tons.  “I believe that we will be able produce up to 2.5 million tons of cement in the next year.”

Recall that the Government of Tajikistan and the Chzhungtsai Mohir Cement Company started operation at their joint-run 1.2Mt/yr cement plant in Yovon district of Khatlon province in August this year.  The plant was introduced into operation on August 24.  It is the first cement plant in Central Asia to produce ‘400’, ‘500’ and ‘600’ branded cement.  The plant cost US$121m to build with 35% of the cost procured from local investors and 65% from foreign investment.

By improving the country’s cement sector, Tajikistan expects to become a net cement exporter.  Earlier, Tajikistan imported cement in large quantities from Pakistan, Iran and China. 

Meanwhile, over the first nine months of this year, Tajikistan has exported 96,000 tons of cement to Afghanistan, 35,000 tons to Uzbekistan, 30,000 tons to Kyrgyzstan, and 65 tons to the Russian Federation.