Eurocement Group is currently holding a tender for a general contractor to build a new cement plant in the Angren Free Economic Zone in Uzbekistan, the Jahon information agency reports.

The project plans the construction of a new dry-process plant with a capacity of 6200tpd of clinker or 2.4Mta of cement. It will save 35-45 per cent on the plant's natural gas usage and the plans are to start production by the end of 2018.

The project is under the special control of the Uzbek government. In particular, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who visited Angren on 21 July, issued the prompt decision of the President on measures to build the new plant, and the first deputy prime minister of Uzbekistan was tasked to provide all the necessary assistance for the construction.

At present, there are five large cement plants in the country: Kyzylkumcement, Akhangarancement, Kuvasaycement, Bekabadcement and Jizzakh cement plant. Their total ccement apacity exceeds 8.5Mta.

Recently, in the Bulakbashi district of the Andijan region, together with Chinese investors, a project began for the construction of a new cement plant with a cement capacity of 1.2Mta. In total, in the next five years, Uzbekistan plans to double its cement output, to reach 17Mta, claims the Times of Central Asia.