KONIBODOM, July 10, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The Konibodom joint-stock company (JSC) Asror, which is one of Tajikistan’s largest oil-extracting plants, has not been in operation since the beginning of the year. 

According to the industry department within the Konibodom mayor’s office, the plant has not operated because of lack of raw materials – technical cotton seeds.  The plant I capable to process up to 300 tons of cotton seeds per day.  

“The plant had provided with cottonseed (cooking) oil the all cities and districts of northern Tajikistan,” the source at the industry department said.  

However, shutdown of this enterprise has not affected economic results of Konibodom''s industrial sector in the first half-year of 2008, according to him.  

In January-June 2008, Konibodom has produced a total of 21,446,761 somonis worth of industrial goods. Compared to January-June 2007 the index of the volume of production of industrial goods has amounted to 107.4 percent.