KHUJAND, September 23, 2008, Asia-Plus — Specialists from an Indian company have completed the study of coal mines of open joint-stock company Angisht (Coal) at the town of Shurob, Sughd’s Isfara district.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the Angisht director general Hokimjon Mahmoudov said that the Indian specialists had assessed underground infrastructure and available coal mining resources in order to determine expediency of construction of power plant here that would work on local coal.
According to him, Tajikistan and India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on construction of such a power plant. According to Indian specialists’ estimates, up to 500,000 tons of coals are needed per year for operation of the station, he said.
“To reach this production level, we need to rehabilitate all coal mines and field drifts that requires considerable investments,” said the director general, “Indian specialists agree to start work if the enterprise will reach at least the 200,000 tons level.” “We are gradually increasing coal productions due to mechanization of the underground works. Thus, we have produced 20,570 tons of coals this year so far, which is 24.5 percent or 4,165 tons more than tin he same period of 2007.”
Mahmoudov noted that Angisht is a subsidized enterprise. This year, it has received 440,000 somoni from the national budget; the funds have been used for purchase of the mining equipment. “We need at least 1 million somoni a year,” he said, noting that the enterprise is experiencing an acute shortage of funds for preparation of mines for work.
The release price of one ton of coal at the enterprise is currently 300 somoni.
