Rogun Dam Nears World’s Tallest Height

The Rogun Hydropower Project in Tajikistan is a large hydroelectric scheme on the Vakhsh River. The dam is designed to reach 335 metres, which would make it the world’s tallest dam after completion.

Rogun Dam: Key Technical Features

The Rogun Dam is a rockfill dam with a clay core. By August 2026, construction had raised the structure to about 190 metres in height and to an elevation of 1,155 metres above sea level. The reservoir water level is planned to rise to 1,140 metres above sea level after the latest stage of construction.

The project has six planned generating units of 600 MW each. Two units are already operational, and the completed plant is expected to have an installed capacity of 3,600 MW. The project is also associated with a designed generation capacity of 3,780 MW in some project documents.

Location and River System

The project is located upstream of the Nurek Hydropower Plant and about 110 kilometres from Dushanbe. The Vakhsh River is a major tributary of the Amu Darya river system, which places Rogun within a wider Central Asian water and energy network.

The dam site uses underground diversion tunnels and foundation consolidation works. By August 2026, around 49 million cubic metres of material had been placed and more than 500,000 linear metres of drilling had been completed for foundation work and the grout curtain.

Power Output, Financing and Regional Role

The completed plant is expected to generate about 14,400 GWh of renewable electricity annually. This output is linked to Tajikistan’s domestic power supply, winter electricity shortages, and planned electricity exports to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

In June 2026, the World Bank approved an additional 300 million grant for the second phase of the project, taking its total planned financing to 650 million. Tajikistan has also planned at least 10 billion somoni for Rogun financing in 2026, and the total completion cost is estimated at about $5.8 billion by 2035.

Important Facts for Exams

• Hydropower is electricity generated by using the energy of flowing or falling water.
• Rockfill dams use compacted rock fragments, and a clay core reduces seepage through the structure.
• The Vakhsh River is part of the Amu Darya basin, which is important for Central Asian water sharing.
• Rogun is planned to have six turbines, each with a capacity of 600 MW.

Exam-Relevant Background

Construction of the Rogun project began in 1976 during the Soviet period and was later revived after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The third hydroelectric unit is scheduled for commissioning in the third quarter of 2027.