Over 235 thousand tons of coal has been extracted by Tajik miners since the beginning of the year. The Ministry of Energy and Industry of Tajikistan told Asia-Plus that this amount is 56 thousand tons more than during the same period last year.

Coal sales throughout the country have been 195 thousand tons since the beginning of the year.

Coal reserves in various coal company reserves are 86 thousand tons, including last year’s reserves.

The Energy and Industry Ministry notes that increase in coal sales is connected to transition of many industrial companies to coal fuel, including such a large enterprises as the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO).

In general, in the meantime over 160 of the country’s industrial enterprises work on coal fuel and they collectively require above 200 thousand tons of coal.

Internal coal demand is expected to increase in the future. A large cement factory is planned to start operating in the south of the country, as well as Dushanbe-2 thermoelectric plant and other plants that will work on coal.

Furthermore, due to Tajikistan’s accession into the World Trade Organization, ban on coal export has been removed, which was introduced last May.