BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 28
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
Due to the ongoing large-scale construction work in Uzbekistan, the need for inexpensive roofing materials is growing, Trend reports with reference to the press service of Uzpromstroymaterialy association.
Currently, in Uzbekistan, there are 61 enterprises for the production of chrysotile-cement products with a total annual capacity of over 69.6 million sheets per year.
In 2019, in total chrysotile-cement sheet manufacturers produced 76.9 million sheets. Despite the anti-asbestos campaign, the relatively low cost determines their further use.
In the general structure of roofing materials used in construction, slate accounts for 55 percent, and in low-rise and rural construction slated amounts up to 80 percent, since asbestos-cement roofing is cheaper than tiles, metal, polymers, and other alternative materials and is applicable for all climatic zones.
As of September 1, the cost of one square meter of slate amounts to 26,750 soums ($2.6), while ceramic tiles cost 60,000 soums ($5.8) and more, flexible tiles – from 63,350 ($6.1) to 110,000 soums ($10.7), corrugated board – from 32,000 ($3.1) to 51,000 soums ($4.9), metal tiles – 97,532 soums ($9.5), sandwich panel 140,000 – 185,000 soums ($13.6-$18).
Given the ongoing large-scale construction work in Uzbekistan, the need for relatively inexpensive roofing materials is growing. Products replacing asbestos-cement products are obtained 2-10 times more expensive. The low-income population simply cannot afford them.
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