Akbar Muhitdinov stated that the capacities of cement plants are almost loaded for 100% and Uzbekistan plans to realize several projects directed to increase them.

Uzstroymaterially official said that it is planned to launch fourth cement production line at the Bekabadcement open joint stock company with the capacity of 1 million tonnes.

Akbar Muhitdinov also added that Uzbekistan is developing projects on construction cement plants at Karakalpakstan with the capacity of 1 million tonnes and in Surkhandarya region with the capacity of 1.7 million tonnes. Switzerland’s PEK is preparing feasibility study of the project in Surkhandarya region, he said.

Modernization of production line of Kyzylkumcement will allow to increase cement production by 50,000 tonnes, he said.

Akbar Muhitdinov said that France’s Lafarge is developing a project in Jizzakh region. He said that Lafarge opened its representative office and submitted documents to receive license to carry out geological exploration works.

Muhitdinov added that the company plans to complete explorations works by the end of 2012 and after that it will adopt decision on expediency of cement plant construction.

It is planned that the capacity of the plant will be 2 million tonnes of oil-well cement a year, while forecasted investment – about US$250 million.

Currently, Uzbekistan has six plants with total capacity of 7 million tonnes. Largest cement producers of Uzbekistan are Kyzylkumcement (3.1 million tonnes), Ahangarancment (1.74 million tonnes) and Quvasaycement (920,000 tonnes).

Share of cement industry in total production volume construction industry in Uzbekistan makes up about 72%.

Uzbekistan increased cement production by 0.3% year-on-year in 2010 to 6.872 million tonnes, the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said.