DUSHANBE, November 9, 2012, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan is experiencing acute cement shortages.
According to data of the Ministry of Energy and Industries, Tajikistan’s largest cement producer, Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant), is currently operating at less than 20 percent of its capacity.
Tajikistan’s annual requirements in cement are now 1.5 million tons while cement shortages are approximately 600,000-700,000 tons per year, an official source at a MoEI said.
Tajik cement plants reportedly fail to meet the country’s requirements in cement because of serious fuel supply problems. Because of natural-gas shortages Tojikcement has reportedly been forced to reduce production.
To add to the cement shortage problems, the cement prices have risen in Tajikistan – from 900 somoni per one ton last year to 950 somoni.
According to the statistical data from the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan, Tajikistan has imported US$70 million worth of more than 783,000 tons of cement over the first ten months of this year. Compared to last year, Tajikistan’s cement imports has increased by 182,000 somoni.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Kazakhstan provide the bulk of Tajikistan’s cement imports. This year, Tajikistan has imported 250,000 tons of cement from Pakistan, 177,000 tons from Afghanistan, 129,000 tons from Iran, and 113,000 tons from Kazakhstan.
Last year, Afghanistan was the main supplier of cement to Tajikistan. In 2011, 214,300 tons of cement were delivered to Tajikistan from Afghanistan.
According to data of the MoEI, Tajikistan now produces not more than 400,000 tons of cement per year. In connection with increase in the volume of construction works in the country, they plan to increase annual cement production up to 2.5 million tons by 2015.
“It will become possible due to construction of new cement plants and modernization of the existing ones,” the source at the MoEI added.
