DUSHANBE, October 1, Asia-Plus -- By government’s order Tojikcement (the Dushanbe cement plant) will daily supply 700 tons of cement to the site for the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power station (HPS) beginning from today, Asia-Plus has learned at president’s office.  

The Tojikcement top managers have also confirmed this information.  However, as before the Tojikcement administration insists on increasing cost of cement.  

 In the meantime, Rakhmetulla Alzhanov, director general of open joint-stock company (OJSC) Sangtuda-1 HPS, says that cement reserve on the site is only some 2,000 tons, while the required volume of the cement reserve should be not less than 4,000 tons.  

As it had been reported earlier, according to Alzhanov, a critical situation formed on the site for the Sangtuda-1 power plant on September 14 as the Dushanbe cement plant has suspended cement supplies to the site.   

In the meantime, the Dushanbe cement plant top managers say the plant has consistently fulfilled its obligations on supplying cement to the Sangtuda-1.

“The Dushanbe cement plant has consistently fulfilled its obligations on supplying cement to the Sangtuda-1,” Rajabgul Haqnazarova, the deputy director general of Tojikcement (the Dushanbe cement plant), said.  According to her, the plant has daily delivered the planned 600-700 tons of cement to the site for the Sangtuda-1 station.     

“The plant realizes cement to the Sangtuda-1 station at the rate of 278 somonis per one ton of Portlandcement and 280 somonis per one ton of sulfate-resistant cement, while the market prices of cement fluctuate from 850 to 1,200 somonis per one ton.”  “In the beginning of this year already, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) set the cement prices at the rate of 382.50 somonis per one ton for the Portland cement and 402.90 somonis for the sulfate-resistant cement,” said the deputy director general.  “However, meeting the Sangtuda-1 administration halfway, we have considerably lowered the prices.”  The Tojikcement official noted that the cement plant now works primarily for the OJSC Sangtuda-1 HPS.  “We realize our products at very low price, while their side does not pay for cement at the proper time,” said Haqnazarova, “Therefore, the plant is incurring serious losses and this makes us raise the cement prices.” 

A special commission has been set up to study issues of delivery of cement to the site and pricing of cement.  The commission members include representatives from president’s office, ministry of economic development and trade, Tojikcement and Sangtuda-1HPS.  The commission is expected to submit its recommendations and proposals to the government within the next few days.