DUSHANBE, November 2, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Construction of a cement plant with annual capacity of 100,000 tons of cement is nearing completion in the Mastchoh district, Sughd province, the press center of the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) reports.

Limited liability company, Sughd Tsement (Cement), is building the plant.  “Some 70 percent of the equipment has already been installed and 20 Chinese specialists are expected to arrive in the country in the near future to train local specialists in how to operate the equipment,” the source noted.

According to him, the cement plant is expected to be introduced into operation in March 2012.  Sughd Tsement plans to gradually increase the plant’s annual capacity to one million tons in the next five years, the source added.

Six cement plants now function in Tajikistan.  The country’s largest cement plant is located in Dushanbe.  The Dushanbe plant with annual capacity of one million tons now operates only 30 percent of its rated capacity.

Construction of a new cement plant with annual capacity of one million tons began in Yovon district, Khatlon province in mid-September this year.  A total cost of the project is 100 million U.S. dollars.  Tajik-Chinese joint venture, Huaksin Ghayur Cement, is building the cement plant in Yovon.