DUSHANBE, April 12, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Over the first quarter of this year, Tajikistan has produced 4.3609 million bricks, which is 1.9 million pieces more than in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI).

“Six new brickworks are expected to be introduced into operation this year,” said an official source at a MoEI.  “Besides, capacities of existing 85 brickworks will be increased.”

The main problem of domestic brick-producing enterprises is that they operate seasonally; they cannot dry bricks in winter.

Only 25 of 85 brick-producing enterprises have been working in the country since the beginning of the year, the source said.  Therefore, in winter, brick prices are 20-30 percent higher than in summer.

“The remaining 60 brick-producing enterprises have begun operating this month,” said the source.  “Current price of a brick in Tajikistan is 50 drirams, but it will drop to 40-45 dirams by summer.”

This year, Tajikistan also plans to introduce 4-5 enterprises for production of sand and crushed stones.

Currently, 65 such enterprises operate in the country, the source said.

Only 56 enterprises for production of sand and crushed stones operated during the first quarter of this year.  They have produced 106,700 cubic meters of sand and crushed stones over the report period, which is 66,100 cubic meters more than in the same period last year.