DUSHANBE , June 23, Asia-Plus - Closed joint-stock company (CJSC) “TojikAzot” (Tajik-Cypriot joint venture in Sarband on producing mineral fertilizers) intends to bring production of urea up to 180,000 tons a year, according to information from the Ministry of Industry.  

But for this, the plant should receive natural gas at the rate of 23,000 cubic meters per hour that will allow producing up to 5005 tons of urea a day.   

At present, the plant is producing note more than 87,000 tons of urea a year.  Experts predict that this index of the volume of production of urea may decrease even more this year because supplies of natural gas to “TojikAzot” have started one month late.  

To date, the plant has received Uzbek natural gas at the rate of 16,500 cubic meters per hour.  “The plant’s administration has development of the gas field Khoja-Sartez and the construction of a gas pipeline that would allow providing the plant with cheaper domestic gas and reducing cost price of urea produced by the plant,” said the source, “Unfortunately, this plan has not been supported.” 

ABOUT: Tajik-Cypriot JV “TojikAzot” was established on the basis of a plant for producing mineral fertilizers in the Tajik southern city of Sarband (Khatlon province) in 2002.  Tajikistan owns 20 percent of the shares and the Cyprus ’ “High Rock Ltd” assumes the 80 percent ownership interest in the CJSC “TojikAzot”. The enterprise uses Russian technology and equipment.  The JV produces urea, meeting requirements of international standards, as well as synthetic ammonia, liquid ammonia, technical oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc.