DUSHANBE, July 2, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan’s largest empties production plant, Lal, is on the verge of crisis, the enterprise deputy director Abdurazoq Majidov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, Lal’s debts for natural gas, electricity and taxes have exceeded 8 million somoni to this day.  “The enterprise now owes 3.7 million somoni to Tojiktransgaz (Tajik state natural-gas distributor) alone,” said Majidov, “Tojiktransgaz filed suit against Lal and court handed down ruling in favor of Tojiktransgaz.  The sides agreed that Lal will repay its debt until the end of this year.”

He notes the debts emerged during the global financial crisis when the enterprise’s output was not in demand and output for more than 14 million somoni has amassed in storages.  “I think the enterprises will be able to repay its debts, if not, the administration may propose property for the debts,” the deputy director said.

Located in Khujand, the enterprise was founded in 1949.  In 1997, the plant was reorganized into cooperative enterprise Lal and in 1999, it was reorganized into joint-stock company (JSC) Lal.  Though the enterprise has the rated capacity of producing 90,000 empties per day, it now produces not more than 60,000-70,000 empties per day.