DUSHANBE, November 7, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Over the first ten months of this year, Tajikistan has produced more than 432,000 tons of coal, which is 60 percent more than in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industry (MoEI).

An official source at a MoEI says the coal production forecast for January-October this year has been determined at 201,800 tons.

Over the same ten-month period, 378,000 tons of coal has been offered for sale, which is 7,500 tons fewer than in January-October 2012.

Coal production has increased due to a shift from more expensive natural gas to more economical coal for heating and other needs (e.g., to generate gas for the TALCO operation) and 162 enterprises are now engaged in production of coal in Tajikistan.