Tajikistan has begun preparations to build the 800-megawatt Khutalon hydroelectric power plant on the Vakhsh River, the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources said, as the Central Asian nation works to expand its domestic energy capacity.
Energy Minister Daler Juma inspected the designated site for the dam, powerhouse, and accompanying infrastructure. The project, previously designated as Shurob in official planning records, will be integrated into the Vakhsh cascade between the upstream Rogun plant and the downstream Nurek facility, the country’s two largest power assets.
Preliminary feasibility studies project that Khutalon will generate over 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, with some engineering estimates reaching 2.684 billion kilowatt-hours. A dedicated state agency established by the government in November 2025 will supervise all phases of the project, from initial design through commercial operation. The project is currently at the stage of completing its final feasibility study.
Hydropower accounts for more than 95% of Tajikistan’s total electricity production, exposing the power grid to seasonal variations in river discharge that regularly trigger winter generation deficits. Grid inefficiencies compound the issue. Technical losses in transmission networks reached 1.654 billion kilowatt-hours during the first half of 2026, or 12.9% of total production, while overall generation declined 1.3% year-on-year to 11.656 billion kilowatt-hours over the same period.
In addition to Khutalon, authorities in Dushanbe are continuing construction on the 3,780-megawatt Rogun hydropower plant. The energy ministry is also negotiating with foreign investors to install 1,250 megawatts of solar capacity, supporting the government’s target of shifting entirely to renewable power sources by 2032.
