Rogun

Rogun refers to a major hydroelectric dam project on the Vakhsh River in Tajikistan, named for the nearby village of Rogun in Rasht District. If completed, the project would form the Rogun Reservoir and house a large power plant intended to produce substantial electricity for Tajikistan and the region, contributing to energy security and potential exports.

Design and scope

The Rogun project is planned as a tall concrete-structure dam with a hydroelectric facility expected to generate electricity measured in the thousands of megawatts. The accompanying reservoir would store a large volume of water on the Vakhsh River basin, enabling more flexible and high-volume power generation. The project is often described as among the most ambitious and influential planned dams in Central Asia due to its scale and potential regional impact.

History and development

Interest in Rogun dates to the Soviet era in the 1960s and 1970s, with construction beginning in the late 1970s. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, progress slowed and largely halted in the early 1990s. In the 2000s and 2010s, discussions and limited construction activity resumed, with involvement by Tajik authorities and various international financiers and partners over time. The project has been subject to regional diplomacy and disagreements over downstream water use and flood management, particularly with Uzbekistan, which lies downstream on the river system.

Status and considerations

As of the mid- to late 2020s, Rogun remained incomplete, with partial works and ongoing debates about financing, technical design, environmental impact, and regional water security. Proponents point to potential energy gains and economic development, while critics emphasize ecological, social, and geopolitical concerns.

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