DUSHANBE , June 13, Asia-Plus - Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov presided over a meeting with participation of heads of a number of ministries and organizations on June 12, according to information from presidential press service.  The meeting was held to discuss a state of the country’s construction sector and production of cement.  

During the meeting it was noted that at present the “Tojikcement” State Unitary Enterprise (cement plant) daily produces some 500 tons of cement.  Telling the meeting, Oqilov noted that that volume of cement production was not enough to meet the country’s requirements in this building material.  In this connection, he demanded at the meeting that “Tojikgaz” (Tajik state gas concern) should increase supply of natural gas to “Tojikcement” to 13,000 cubic meters an hour that would allow increasing production of cement up to 1,300 tons a day.  

The meeting also considered the issue of clearing off Tojikcement’s debt to Tojikgaz.  The prime minister ordered to work out a schedule of repayment of debts of the ministries and organizations to “Tojikcement”.  

According to figures provided by the State Committee for Statistics, compared to January-April 2005 production of cement in Tajikistan has increased by 1.9 percent and amounted to 68,400 tons over the first four months of this year.