KULOB, September 8, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- In January-August 2008, the coalfield Shuroobod in Khatlon’s Shuroobod district has extracted 1,800 tons of coal, which is much more than it was originally planned, the coalfield director Rustam Sobirov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.  

According to him, it has become possible due to decision of the private company Mir Said Ali Hamadoni to lease one of coalfield’s sections. 

“The company’s excavator and two heavy trucks KamAz have allowed increasing extraction of coal,” Sobirov said, noting that they realized cola not only to local residents but also residents of Gorno Badakhshan.  

In early September the coalfield shipped 265 tons of coal to military units deployed in Vose and Shuroobod as well as local residents. 

However, Sobirov considers that there ought not to invest considerable funds in development of the Shuroobod coalfield.  “The field has possible coal reserves of 1.9 million tons, while, its explored coal reserves are 88,000 tons,” said Sobirov, “Shuroobod has coal deposits in other areas as well – in Dashti Jum for example.” 

The coal reserves of Dashti Jum had been explored in the Soviet time already and according to specialists, the Dashti Jum field has the possible coal reserves of up to 300 million tons, Sobirov said.