Italian construction company Webuild has raised the crest of the Rogun hydroelectric dam in Tajikistan to 1,155 meters above sea level, enabling a 40-meter increase in the reservoir water level to 1,140 meters.
The higher water level and increased hydraulic head will allow two operational turbines to generate additional electricity for the domestic power grid while construction continues on the rest of the facility.
Webuild is building the rock-fill dam under a contract valued at approximately $2.3 billion for the state-run project company OJSC Rogun HPP. Upon completion, the 335-meter structure will become the tallest dam in the world. The plant is designed to house six 600-megawatt turbines with a cumulative capacity of 3,600 megawatts, which is expected to double Tajikistan’s total electricity generation.
The dam currently stands at about 190 meters. Workers have placed 49 million cubic meters of earth and rock fill, representing more than half of the project’s total embankment volume. Drilling for foundation grouting and the installation of a seepage barrier has surpassed 500,000 linear meters.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda recently visited the site to inspect construction progress with contractors and plant management.
Funding for the Rogun project includes support from the World Bank, Italian state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, and several international financial institutions.
