Tajikistan Builds Rogun Dam to Address Energy Shortages

Al Jazeera reported from the Rogun construction site in Tajikistan on 29 May 2026. The visit described a two-hour drive from Dushanbe along a winding road that follows the Vakhsh River through narrow valleys and rocky hills. The project, first launched in the mid-1970s, aims to reduce Tajikistan's winter electricity shortages.

President Emomali Rahmon has described the dam as a matter of "life or death" for the country.

At the site, workers operate heavy equipment across multiple levels of tunnels, roads, and excavation zones. The dam structure includes a clay core, hydraulic tunnels between 1,100 and 1,500 meters long, and an underground power station with six turbine units.

Italian engineer Andres, employed by contractor Webuild, stated that the completed dam will stand 335 meters high. He described the system as an effort to harness the river's energy through controlled pressure and flow.

The Vakhsh River flows through a region shared with downstream countries that monitor water usage. The project requires coordination on water releases and safety measures, according to the engineer. Al Jazeera noted that the dam is viewed domestically as the "Project of the Century," intended to convert seasonal water flow into a stable power supply and potential export resource.