Construction on Tajikistan’s Rogun Dam has progressed significantly following fresh international financing. The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a $300 million grant in June, marking the organization’s second funding commitment to the project after a $350 million grant approved in December 2024. The Italian infrastructure firm WeBuild Group announced in August that it had commenced work on the project’s second major component and raised the dam structure to 1,155 meters above sea level, enabling expanded water storage and increased power generation capacity.
The Tajik government has pursued the initiative since 2016, investing more than $3 billion to date. Once completed to its full specifications, the dam would reach 335 meters in height, making it the world’s tallest. The facility is projected to generate approximately 14,400 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, equivalent to about 60 percent of Tajikistan’s current energy production. Government officials have signaled confidence in the project’s progress, with the finance minister expressing expectations for achieving energy independence in 2027. The completion target remains 2035, though international analysts estimate an additional $5.8 billion is needed.
The project has attracted support from multiple international financial institutions beyond the World Bank. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development committed $100 million in early February, while the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, an Italian state investment entity, pledged $150 million. Tajikistan reported securing $1.5 billion in international funding commitments overall, supplemented by substantial domestic government investment totaling $700 million in the current year.
The initiative remains contested among environmental and civil society organizations. Critics have raised concerns about ecological damage, displacement of approximately 50,000 residents, and regional water stress affecting the Amu Darya River basin. Environmental groups have expressed apprehension about reduced oversight conditions accompanying the latest funding tranche. Negotiations continue with the European Investment Bank regarding a potential $500 million investment and with the Asian Development Bank concerning an additional $500 million in financing, with European discussions reportedly in their final stages.
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