The Environmental Impact of Chinese Cement Plants in Tajikistan Remains Hidden

Dushanbe: Chinese investments have revolutionized the cement industry in Tajikistan, transforming the nation from an importer to a leading exporter of cement in Central Asia. As of 2024, five cement plants funded by Chinese capital have been established in the country. The three largest Tajik-Chinese plants are responsible for 85 percent of the annual output, providing jobs for the local population, satisfying domestic cement demand, and generating revenue through exports to neighboring countries. According to Global Voices, while these economic benefits are significant, they come with environmental costs. The negative environmental impact of cement production is well-documented worldwide, and Tajikistan is no exception. A Soviet-era cement plant in the capital, Dushanbe, was shut down in 2023 due to its environmental damage, demonstrating the potential hazards. Furthermore, the reliance on coal by these cement plants exacerbates environmental concerns, as coal is a highly polluting energy resource. China p lays a crucial role in Tajikistan's economy, acting as its largest investor and lender, and its second-largest trade partner. From 2007 to 2023, Chinese investments in Tajikistan amounted to USD 3.845 billion, as reported by Tajikistan's State Committee for Investments and State Property Management. Prior to these investments, the country's cement industry was limited, with only the Soviet-era Tajik Tsement plant operating in Dushanbe. In 2012, Tajikistan produced a mere 89,000 tons of cement, while domestic demand was at 3 million tons, necessitating imports from Pakistan, Iran, and Kazakhstan. The landscape began changing in 2013 when the private Chinese cement producer Huaxin and Tajik Gayur Group launched JV Huaxin Gayur Cement in the southwestern Khatlon province, with an annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes. In 2016, they launched another plant, JV Huaxin Gayur Sughd Cement, in the northern Sughd province, with a similar capacity. The same year, Chzhungtsai Mohir Cement, another joint venture, was est ablished in Khatlon province, also with a capacity of 1.2 million tons. These developments significantly boosted Tajikistan's cement production, enabling the country to meet its domestic needs and become a major exporter by 2017, with an annual production of 3.1 million tons. Despite the economic advantages, the environmental impact of these plants has been less scrutinized. A critical assessment emerged in 2016 when Dirk Van Der Kley warned about the polluting effects of Chinese cement investments in his article "China shifts polluting cement to Tajikistan." This was later cited by the local Tajik independent media outlet Asia Plus in 2017, quoting an anonymous ecologist who highlighted potential irreversible environmental damage. The economic incentives for Chinese entrepreneurs in Tajikistan include high demand for cement and cheap labor, which benefits Chinese investors. However, there is a notable absence of public concern and criticism, which suggests that the environmental and health damages are bein g concealed by state authorities. This pattern is not unique to the cement industry, as similar suppression and censorship are evident in Tajikistan's gold mining sector, where Chinese involvement is significant. Interviews conducted by Radio Ozodi, a local branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, reveal that local communities face pressure from Tajik authorities to remain silent about the environmental and health damages caused by Chinese gold mining operations. An anonymous source from the Tajik Environmental Protection Committee admitted to being instructed to ignore pollution from the Zarafshon gold mine, a joint Tajik-Chinese enterprise. Considering the significance of Chinese cement plants and overall investments for Tajikistan's economy, it is likely that similar silencing tactics are employed for the cement industry. China, as the world's largest producer of cement, produced 2.1 billion metric tons in 2023, more than half of the global output. This is contradictory to China's emphasis on green dev elopment and ecological civilization, as highlighted under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Chinese cement companies, like Huaxin Cement, are expanding internationally, as seen in their presence in Tajikistan and other countries. However, this expansion has faced international criticism, such as in Nepal, where Huaxin began operating a cement plant without an Environmental Impact Assessment. This highlights the caution foreign states should exercise before entering investment deals with Chinese companies, particularly in cement production. Nonetheless, investment-seeking Tajikistan appears willing to overlook environmental and public health concerns for economic gains.