DUSHANBE, December 21, 2013, Asia-Plus – Over the first eleven months of this year, Tajikistan has produced some 490,000 tons of coal, which was nearly 120 percent of the January-November 2012 level or more than 90,000 tons more, according to the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MoINT).

In November, little more than 55,000 tons of coal were produced, 23,000 tons fewer than in October.

Coal production has reportedly increased in Tajikistan due to a shift from more expensive natural gas and electricity to more economical coal for heating and other purposes.  Since 2007, more than 150 industrial enterprises have been shift from natural gas to coal.

Tajikistan’s possible coal reserves are estimated at some 4.5 billion tons.