KHUJAND, September 4, 2009, Asia-Plus --Tajik-Vietnamese joint venture producing silk thread, VT-Silk, intends to resume operations after being closed for some two months.

The acting director general of the enterprise Uktam Tursunov said in an interview with Asia-Plus that it had become possible due to shifting the enterprise’s steam generators from natural gas to coal.

“The gas-run steam generators became detrimental after the natural-gas prices doubled,” said Tursunov, “Besides, there were problems with raw material (cocoons) deliveries and the enterprise management was forced to suspend the operation of the enterprise.”

According to him, the main work has been completed and the steam generators will be installed and reintroduced into operation in the near future.

He added that they had stocked 200 tons of cocoons that would be enough for 6-7 months.  “The enterprise will resume operations already this month,” Tursunov noted.

500 people currently work for VT-Silk.  The main product of the enterprise is the silk thread that is exported to Southeast Asia’s countries.