DUSHANBE, January 19, 2016, Asia-Plus -- Cement plants built in Tajikistan with help from China do not affect the country’s environment, Khairullo Ibodzoda, the head of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan, told reporters in Dushanbe on January 19.

According to him, these cement plants are provided with “the best emission cleaners” and meet Tajikistan’s environmental regulations on air emissions.

Meanwhile, Ibodzoda noted that functioning of the Dushanbe-2 combined heat and power (CHP) plant was problem for Tajikistan.

“This CHP plant has been built by China’s Xinjiang Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co. Ltd (TBEA) but it has been fully reequipped,” Tajik official said, noting that equipment for cleaning for sulphur dioxide emissions has not yet operated in full capacity.

TBEA, which is one of the largest electrical manufacturing groups in China, is building the Dushanbe-2 CHP plant.

This coal-powered plant is being built in the Luchob area of the Tajik capital.  Construction of the coal-powered plant is reportedly in compliance with Tajikistan’s environmental regulations.

The first 50 MW unit of the first line of the Dusahnbe-2 CHP plant was introduced into operation in January 2014 and the second 50 MW unit of the first line was introduced into operation on September 13, 2014.

The second line of the Dushanbe-2 CHP plant, which consists of two units with a total capacity of 300 MW and 270 gigacalories, is expected to be introduced into operation this year.

The plant’s second line will increase the plant’s capacity to 400 megawatt.

A total cost of the project is reportedly 30 million USD and it is being implemented due to a loan provided the Export-Import Bank of China.