Tajikistan has begun construction of a new 1.2Mta cement plant in Khatlon region as part of government efforts to address domestic cement shortages and rising prices.
President Emomali Rahmon laid the foundation stone for the new plant in Kushoniyon district during a visit to Khatlon on 26 August. The project is being developed by private company Sementi Khatlon and is scheduled for completion by 2029.
The plant will occupy a 30ha site in Nurafsho village and will be located close to the Kurgontepa limestone deposit, enabling it to source its principal raw material locally. Around 1000 workers are expected to be employed during construction, while the completed facility is forecast to create more than 700 permanent jobs.
The project is the fourth new cement plant to enter construction in Tajikistan over the past two months. President Rahmon instructed the government in May to facilitate the construction of four new plants by 2029 following cement shortages and price increases.
Construction has already started on two plants at Kharangon in Varzob district and another project in Istaravshan. These three plants are expected to provide combined cement production capacity of 3.6Mta. Together with Sementi Khatlon's project, the four developments would therefore add approximately 4.8Mta of new capacity.
The government expects the capacity expansion to double domestic cement production, improve security of supply and help stabilise cement prices.
