DUSHANBE, January 15, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- According to the Ministry of energy and Industries (MoEI), more than 412,000 tons of coals were produced in Tajikistan last year, 175,000 tons more than in 2011.

In Tajikistan, coal comes mainly from the following coalfields: Fon-Yaghnob; Vuromun; Shurob; Ziddi, Sayod, and Shouroobod.

Currently there are some 2,000 coal-selling outlets in Tajikistan and 444,000 tons of coals were sold last year, 206,000 tons more than in 2011.

154 industrial enterprises in Tajikistan now work on coal and Tajikistan’s annual requirements in coal are 200,000 tons, the source at a MoEI said.

Meanwhile, the monthly report for December 2012, Monitoring &r Early Warning in Tajikistan, notes that 25,666 tons of coals were produced in November 2012, 31,599 tons less than in October 2012.  During the first eleven months of 2012, more than 397,146 tons of coal were produced in Tajikistan, 174,718 tons more than in the same period of 2011 (222,428 tons).  Coal production has reportedly increased due to a shift from more expensive natural gas and electricity to more economical coal as the fuel of preference for many uses.