Tajikistan is fully investing in hydropower by building the Rogun Dam, the world’s tallest upon completion.
The move could reshape the energy balance in Central Asia and reduce its reliance on imported energy. Typically a customer of Russia for fossil fuels, the currently under-construction Rogun Dam, could completely transform their economy by positioning them as a key energy player in the region.
Tajikistan’s Rogun Dam will be the tallest in the world
The Rogun Dam is projected to produce 36,000 megawatts of energy, equivalent to the power provided by three nuclear reactors. The project is viewed as the crucial ace up Tajikistan’s sleeve to become completely energy-independent. It could turn the nation into the primary energy supplier for its neighbors Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, facilitating their transition from gas to electricity.
The very principle of being able to sell their energy to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan is bringing in funding interest into the project in the first place. While the details need to be ironed out between the nations, the idea is that Tajikistan will sell about 70 percent of the energy stored in the dam in exchange for gas in the winter months, when they need it most.
Rogun Dam received about $3 billion in financing from many banks, primarily the World Bank. The Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank also invested in the funding package, noticeably missing Russia as they are occupied with the conflict in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the 1,100-foot tall structure is also a significant symbol for Tajikistan, signifying its increased importance in Central Asia because of the dam. A symbol such as the Rogun would benefit the country on the world stage, too.
“The Rogun Dam is already a national symbol and a message from a country striving for energy independence,” said Artemy Kalinovsky, professor of History and Political Science at Temple University, to the Wall Street Journal.
The project has been in the works for decades, originally funded by the Soviet Union. But that was before the communist superpower collapsed in 1991. Tajikistan has tried to continue building the Rogun Dam since then. They secured limited funds through various means, including forcing their citizens to buy bonds so that they could have enough money to build the dam. Tajikistan hopes to complete the Rogun Dam in 2033, but only time will tell if they meet their goal.
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