4 days ago
Tajikistan’s Rogun Dam Advances Toward World’s Tallest Status
Tajikistan is building a very large dam called Rogun.
It is being built on the Vakhsh River.
When finished, the dam is planned to be 335 metres tall, which would make it the tallest dam in the world.
The project will have six turbines that make electricity from moving water.
Two turbines are already working even though construction is not finished.
Tajikistan hopes the dam will provide more electricity during winter, when shortages are common.
The project may also allow Tajikistan to sell electricity to nearby countries.
International organizations, including the World Bank, are helping finance the construction.
The Rogun Dam on Tajikistan’s Vakhsh River is designed to reach 335 metres, potentially making it the world’s tallest dam.
Construction reached about 190 metres in August 2026, while work continues toward the final height.
Two of six planned 600-megawatt turbines are already operating, with total planned capacity of 3,600 megawatts.
The project aims to reduce Tajikistan’s winter electricity shortages, expand renewable generation and support industrial development.
The World Bank approved $650 million in planned financing, while Rogun is also expected to support electricity exports to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
- Who
- Tajikistan, OJSC Rogun HPP, Webuild and international development partners are involved in the project.
- What
- The Rogun Hydropower Project is the construction of a 335-metre dam and six-turbine hydropower plant.
- Where
- The project is on the Vakhsh River in Tajikistan, upstream of the Nurek Hydropower Plant and about 110 kilometres from Dushanbe.
- When
- Construction began in 1976, and a major height milestone was reached in August 2026; the World Bank approved the first financing phase in December 2024 and a further grant in June 2026.
- Why
- Tajikistan aims to reduce winter electricity shortages, improve energy security, expand renewable generation, support economic development and increase regional electricity exports.
Key facts
- Planned dam height
- 335 metres, or about 1,099 feet
- Construction milestone
- About 190 metres high at an elevation of 1,155 metres above sea level in August 2026
- Planned generation capacity
- 3,600 megawatts from six 600-megawatt turbines, according to Webuild
- World Bank capacity figure
- World Bank documents refer to a designed capacity of 3,780 megawatts
- Expected annual generation
- About 14,400 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity
- Current operations
- Two of the six planned generating units are operational
- World Bank financing
- $650 million in total planned financing, including a $300 million second-phase grant approved in June 2026
Sources
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