DUSHANBE, February 26, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Since the beginning of the year, Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) “Angisht,” State Unitary Enterprise “Fon-Yaghnob,” and JV “Anzob” have produced some 25,000 tons of coal, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI).

Compared to the same period last year, coal production has reportedly increased nearly 2.3 times.

In Tajikistan, coal mostly comes from Fon-Yaghnob field, which produced more than 17,600 tons of coal from January 1 to February 20.   In the same period last year, Fon-Yaghnob produced some 12,700 tons of coal.

In January 2013, Tajikistan produced 15,030 tons of coal, 323 tons more than in December 2012, and 8,271 tons more than in January 2012.

Meanwhile, 16,100 tons of coal have been sold since the beginning of this year.  Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) has purchased 14,000 tons of coal over the report period.

We will recall that Tajikistan produced more than 412,000 tons of coal last year, 175,000 tons more than in 2011.      

Some 2000 coal-selling shops now operate across the country.

Coal production has increased due to a shift from more expensive natural gas and electricity to more economical coal.  From 2007 up to date 154 industrial enterprises have shifted to coal, and their annual need in coal is estimated at more than 200,000 tons.  Household heating, particularly in rural areas, is also a major use of coal.