Initiated in 1976 during the Soviet era, the construction of the Rogun Dam in Tajikistan represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the region. After nearly two decades of inactivity following the Soviet Union’s dissolution, the project was revived in 2016 when the Tajik government contracted the Italian firm Salini Impregilo, now known as Webuild, to complete the dam.
Located roughly 62 miles from the capital city of Dushanbe, the Rogun Dam is poised to become a landmark structure by 2028. Upon completion, it is expected to reach a height of 1,099 feet, which would make it the tallest dam in the world, overtaking the Jinping-I Dam in Sichuan, China.
Powering a Nation
The dam’s massive design will span a gorge measuring 2,165 feet between its two ends. It will house hydroelectric generators with a combined output capacity of 3.6 gigawatts, a figure that could effectively double Tajikistan’s current electricity production. The presidency of Tajikistan has stated that the Rogun Dam is expected to secure the country’s energy independence once operational.
Harnessing the flow of the Vakhsh River, a tributary of the Amu Darya that extends nearly 497 miles with an average discharge of approximately 21,189 cubic feet per second, the dam’s reservoir is projected to hold around 3.1 cubic miles of water. This immense water reserve will play a critical role in sustaining the dam’s hydroelectric power generation.