DUSHANBE, June 4, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Over the first five months of this year, Tajikistan has produced 153,500 tons of coal, which is 52,000 tons more than in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MoINT).

“Over the report period, 29,300 tons of coal have been supplied to the Dushanbe-2 combined heat and power (CHP) plant, 26,000 tons have been supplied to the Tajik aluminum smelter and 16,100 tons have been supplied to Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant) 5,” an official source at a MoINT told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, Tajikistan is decreasing coal imports year by year.  Thus, Tajikistan has imported 893 tons of coal over the first five months of this year, which is 507 tons fewer than in the same period last year.  In January-May 2012, Tajikistan imported 5,700 tons of coal.

“If enterprises are ready to pay, Tajikistan may give up coal imports,” the source noted.

The MoINT specialists note that current daily production of coal in the country is 3,500 tons but it can be brought to 10,000 tons.

Current price for one ton for Tajik opencast coal fluctuates from 80 to 200 somoni while current price for one ton of Tajik underground coal is 450 somoni.

Eighteen coal-producing enterprises now operate at fourteen coal deposits in Tajikistan.   In 2013, they produced 518,000 tons of coal.

Fon-Yaghnob Mine is Tajikistan’s largest coal-producing enterprise.  In January-May this year, it has produced 121,600 tons of coal, which is 80 percent of the overall volume of coal produced in Tajikistan over the report period.