DUSHANBE, February 9, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Iran plans to build a cement plant in Tajikistan.

Iranian Ambassador to Tajikistan Ali-Asghar Sherdoust told reporters in Dushanbe on February 8 that Iran will invest 500 million U.S. dollars in the construction of a cement plant with an annual production capacity of more than 1 million tons in Nosir Khusrav district, Khatlon province.

According to him Iran’s Lian Kavan Kaniha Company will build the plant.  The cement plant is expected to be finished in one and half years.

An appropriate agreement on building this plant was signed in late January 2011, Iranian diplomat noted.

He added that Tajik Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) had offered the Iranian side to build a mini cement plant in one of other districts of Khatlon province before the beginning of construction of the plant in Nosir Khusrav district.  “Negotiations on this subject are under way,” Sherdoust said.  

Iran’s Fars News Agency reports that a seven-member Iranian delegation, comprising legal experts, investors and experts from the Lian Kavan Kaniha Company was in Tajikistan in early January this year to find out Tajikistan’s cement production potentials and capacities.  The negotiations between the Iranian and Tajik officials on building the cement plant two years ago, the news agency said.