In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, the Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma revealed on February 1 that on average, US$1 billion is allocated annually to finance the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power plant (HPP).
The minister noted that according to the latest estimates, US$6.2 billion needed for completion of construction of the Roghun hydropower plant.
According to him, this amount was determined by international consultants who were hired to evaluate the project.
Mr. Juma expressed confidence that this is the final amount, with use of which the construction of the Roghun hydropower plant will be fully completed.
He further noted that the government has been conducting negotiations on financing this project with 10 partners for development.
“The results of negotiations with some of them will be announced this month and with other ones in June this year,” the minister added.
The Roghun HPP is one of the largest projects in the region that can become an important factor of development of Tajikistan and the Central Asian region as a whole. It will contribute significantly to the country’s sustainable development by efficiently utilizing natural resources, including “green” energy.
Two of the six turbines have already started producing energy for sale to raise funding to complete it. The first turbine went into service in November 2018 and the second one was introduced into operation in September 2019.
In his address to a joint meeting of both chambers of parliament, President Emomali Rahmon said on December 28, 2023 that the next unit of the Roghun hydropower plant is planned to be introduced into operation in 2025.
He noted that currently 15,000 workers and specialists are working at the site for construction of the Roghun hydropower plant. At the same time, Rahmon emphasized that there are 5,000 workers missing.
“For the timely implementation of the project, 20,000 workers are currently needed,” Rahmon said, noting that 5 billion somonis (equivalent to US$456 million) were channeled to the Roghun project in 2023.
To-date, spending on the construction of the Roghun hydropower plants has reportedly exceeded 40 billion somonis since 2008.
The hydropower plant is expected to have six turbines with combined capacity of 3600 MW. When complete, it is expected to produce 17.1 terawatt-hour (TWh) of electrical work per year.
If built as planned, the Roghun hydropower plant is expected to end chronic power shortages in Tajikistan and allow it to export electricity to neighboring countries.
