World's Tallest Dam Project Gets New Life With Fresh World Bank Funding
Construction on Tajikistan’s massive Rogun Dam project has taken significant steps forward over the last year, seeming to put to rest doubts about the project’s viability that had bubbled up last summer. In June, World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a $300 million grant for the project – its second round of funding, on top of a $350 million grant approved in December 2024. WeBuild…
The world's tallest dam project, Rogun Dam in Tajikistan, has gained new life with fresh funding from the World Bank. In June, the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved a $300 million grant, adding to a $350 million grant approved in December 2024. The Italian infrastructure firm WeBuild Group began work on Lot 2 of the project, raising the dam to 1,155 meters above sea level.
This expansion allows for a 49-meter increase in water level and enhanced electricity generation capacity. The Tajik government has invested over $3 billion in the project, which could become the world's tallest dam at 335 meters if completed. The hydropower plant is projected to generate 14,400 gigawatt hours annually, meeting about 60% of Tajikistan's current production.
Despite concerns about ecological harm and socio-economic impacts on 50,000 residents, the project holds promise for energy independence and industrial expansion. The World Bank's financing could not be disbursed until conditions were met, which occurred on December 22, 2025. Tajikistan aims to achieve energy independence by 2027 and secure additional funding from the European Investment Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
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