August 21, 2026, in Rogun City
Dear builders of the Rogun Hydropower Plant!
Dear heads and activists of Rogun City!
Our meeting today is taking place on the eve of the sacred and great national holiday — the 35th anniversary of the State Independence of Tajikistan, which, in a few days, will be celebrated by the worthy people of our country, including the builders of the Rogun Hydropower Plant, a project of historic significance for the nation.
I sincerely congratulate all of you on this significant historic date.
Independence marked the beginning of a new stage of state-building, the revival of the national economy, and sustainable development across all spheres of public life for the people of Tajikistan.
Thanks to independence, our national economy has gradually developed, and dozens of state, social, and economic programs have been implemented.
Over the years of independence, thousands of kilometers of international and domestic roads have been built and reconstructed, along with hydropower plants, power transmission lines, substations, industrial enterprises, and educational and healthcare facilities.
Tajikistan gradually emerged from its communication deadlock, a unified national transport and energy system was established, and industry became one of the priority areas of state policy.
The construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant is also one of the most important achievements of the period of independence.
In 2016, the course of the Vakhsh River was diverted, creating a reliable foundation for the construction of the world’s highest hydropower dam, with a height of 335 meters.
In 2018 and 2019, the first generating units of Rogun began producing electricity.
At present, construction of the hydropower plant is at an extremely complex and labor-intensive stage, with work at the site continuing at a high pace.
One year has passed since our previous meeting with you at this large-scale construction site.
Yesterday’s inspection of the progress of work showed that, despite certain difficulties, progress has been achieved in the main areas.
I express my gratitude to all of you — the heads and employees of foreign partner companies, engineers, specialists, and construction workers who are working with courage and a strong sense of patriotism at this construction site.
In today’s challenging conditions, when energy security has become one of the main goals of every state, completing the construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant within the established timeframe and fully commissioning its capacity are of vital and historic importance for our country.
By constructing and commissioning Rogun, we are ensuring a prosperous present and a bright future for our beloved Motherland, Tajikistan, as well as a happy life for current and future generations.
In 2025, the Government of the country allocated a total of 8.1 billion somoni from the republican budget for construction works at the hydropower plant.
In 2026, 11.4 billion somoni has been provided for according to the plan.
During the first seven months of the current year, 8.4 billion somoni from all sources of financing was spent on construction and installation works.
Overall, from 2008 to the present, the Government of the country has allocated 60.3 billion somoni from the state budget and other sources for construction and rehabilitation works at the hydropower plant.
These figures once again confirm that completing the construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant is one of the priority directions of the state’s economic and social policy.
Today, more than 20,000 workers and engineering and technical personnel are employed at the hydropower plant, while the number of machines and mechanisms has reached 4,000 units.
Dear participants!
Construction works at the hydropower plant are divided into separate lots, the implementation of which is directly interdependent.
A delay in one lot may lead to delays in other areas.
Therefore, the project owner — the Open Joint-Stock Company “Rogun Hydropower Plant” — and the owner’s representative are obliged to continuously regulate and coordinate the progress of work across all lots and ensure compliance with the approved schedules.
Regarding Lot 1, it should be noted that on January 30, 2021, a contract was signed between the Open Joint-Stock Company “Rogun Hydropower Plant” and the Austrian company “Voith Hydro.”
The contract provides for the design, procurement, supply, installation, assembly, and commissioning of electromechanical equipment for four generating units with the relevant auxiliary equipment, as well as the manufacture and supply of two permanent runners for Units No. 5 and No. 6.
A number of works have been completed since the signing of the contract.
On July 29–31, 2026, tests of the runner for Unit No. 4 were conducted at the Lot 1 contractor’s laboratory in Austria, after which its transportation began.
According to the plan, the runner for Unit No. 4 will arrive at the hydropower plant at the end of September 2026.
Replacing the temporary runners with permanent ones will allow the combined generating capacity of two units to reach 600 megawatts during the summer-autumn period.
This figure is approximately equivalent to the generating capacity of the Sangtuda-1 Hydropower Plant.
In this regard, the Open Joint-Stock Company “Rogun Hydropower Plant,” together with the Lot 1 contractor, is instructed to take all necessary measures to commission Unit No. 4 in September 2027.
Lot 2 includes the construction of the hydropower plant’s dam, which has been assigned to the Italian company “Webuild.”
During the inspection, it was noted that construction works on the dam are continuing at the required pace.
As of today, material placement in the dam body has reached elevation 1,155 meters, or a height of 190 meters, with more than 49 million cubic meters of material placed since construction began.
This represents more than 61 percent of the designed volume.
In the current year alone, the volume of material placed in the dam has exceeded 8 million cubic meters.
Works on the reservoir water intake up to elevation 1,140 meters must be completed by the beginning of September.
The Open Joint-Stock Company “Rogun Hydropower Plant,” the owner’s representative, and the contractor companies are instructed to take all necessary measures to raise the reservoir water level to elevation 1,140 meters by the beginning of September 2026.
Accumulating a sufficient volume of water in the reservoir will make it possible to increase electricity generation during the autumn-winter period and more effectively meet the electricity needs of the population and sectors of the national economy.
Construction works on the right-bank facilities, namely Lot 3, are being carried out by the domestic company “Tajikhydroelektromontazh.”
Using its engineering and technical capacities and capabilities, the company, in accordance with the approved schedule, continues construction of the fourth-tier tunnel, upper-level spillway tunnels, stilling basin, grouting tunnels, roads and transport tunnels, as well as installation of hydromechanical equipment.
In the fourth-tier construction tunnel, excavation, temporary support, reinforcement, and concreting works have been fully completed, and the tunnel is completely ready for water passage.
Transport tunnel T-39, which serves as a connecting route between the right bank, the lower part of the dam, and the left bank, has been fully commissioned.
This facility is of key importance for the effective organization of construction works, coordination of all project participants, and the unobstructed movement of machinery and construction materials.
Despite the volume of work already completed, the management of the Open Joint-Stock Company “Rogun Hydropower Plant,” the owner’s representative, and “Tajikhydroelektromontazh” are instructed to eliminate the existing delays, further accelerate the pace of work, and ensure the high-quality and timely completion of all works envisaged under Lot 3.
Construction of facilities on the left bank, namely Lot 4, is also one of the important components of the project.
Following an international tender conducted in 2025, construction and installation works under this lot were assigned to the Open Joint-Stock Company “Tunnel Saddi Oriyono” and the Open Joint-Stock Company “Experimental Mechanical Plant” of Nurek City.
At present, these companies continue their work in accordance with the approved schedule.
The permanent water intake is one of the most important facilities of Lot 4.
In the future, it will provide water from three levels of the reservoir to the water-conveyance tunnels and will also contribute to the stability of the rock formations and the reliable operation of the hydropower plant in the decades to come.
I have repeatedly emphasized, and I reiterate today, that all construction works at the Rogun Hydropower Plant must be carried out in strict compliance with quality requirements, using advanced global technologies and in accordance with international standards.
We are talking about the country’s largest hydropower facility and one of the highest dams in the world.
Therefore, its overall stability, reliability, and safety must be fully ensured.
For this purpose, since the beginning of the new stage of construction of the hydropower plant to the present day, more than 5,944 modern monitoring and measuring instruments have been installed and commissioned at the site, while fully equipped laboratories have been established for the project owner and contractor companies.
These laboratories make it possible to regularly test the quality of construction materials and raw materials for compliance with international standards.
The quality of construction works, compliance with project documentation, and adherence to technical requirements are under constant supervision of the Committee on Architecture and Construction, the project owner, the owner’s representative, and other responsible structures.
I categorically emphasize that at such a unique project of the century, any deviation from quality and safety requirements is unacceptable.
Every engineering decision, every cubic meter of concrete, and every structural element must meet the highest international standards.
Alongside the pace of construction, the protection of the lives and health of construction workers, the provision of decent working and living conditions, and strict compliance with occupational safety requirements must remain top priorities.
I remind you once again that human life and health stand above any production indicators.
Therefore, occupational health and safety requirements and international standards must be strictly observed in all works.
Every manager, engineer, and worker engaged in the construction of the hydropower plant must consider compliance with occupational health and safety requirements their foremost responsibility.
We must ensure both rapid progress in construction and the safety of every construction worker.
Another important aspect of the project is the timely resolution of social issues affecting residents of the flood zone.
From the first days of the project’s implementation, the Government of the country has paid constant attention to protecting the rights and interests of residents of the flood zone and creating decent living conditions for them.
The State Institution “Directorate of the Rogun Hydropower Plant Flood Zone,” in cooperation with development partners, continues to implement a number of important social and infrastructure projects.
In accordance with the loan agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, US$30 million has been allocated for the construction of the Sayidon–Labijar road on the left bank of the reservoir.
Following completion of the international tender procedures, construction works on this road will begin.
This road is of great importance for improving transport connectivity for residents of the left bank of the reservoir and for the further development of the region.
In addition, cooperation has been established with the World Bank and other development partners within the framework of the “Sustainable Financing for Completion of the Rogun Hydropower Plant” project.
The State Institution “Directorate of the Rogun Hydropower Plant Flood Zone,” relevant ministries and agencies, as well as local executive authorities, are required to ensure the timely implementation of all measures and create decent living conditions for every relocated family.
Dear participants!
Alongside regular financing of the construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant from the state budget, the Government of the country is taking concrete measures to attract additional funding from international financial organizations and development partners.
Since 2020, continuous cooperation and constructive dialogue have been established with the World Bank and other reputable international financial institutions.
As a result of effective cooperation with the World Bank, grant agreements totaling US$650 million were signed for the first two stages of the project.
In addition, loan and grant agreements totaling more than US$1.9 billion have been signed with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Saudi Fund for Development, Kuwait Fund, OPEC Fund, Qatar Fund for Development, State Investment Bank of Italy, and Abu Dhabi Fund.
At present, international financial institutions have begun financing the project, and our cooperation with development partners to attract additional funding continues.
Today, we have once again seen that construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant is progressing at a good pace and that a reliable foundation has been created for its completion within the established timeframe.
Each completed stage brings us closer to the national strategic goal of achieving full energy independence and developing a “green” economy.
Dear participants!
In order to ensure the high-quality and timely completion of construction works, the commissioning of subsequent facilities and generating capacities of the hydropower plant within the established deadlines, the strengthening of cooperation with international development partners, and the full fulfillment of contractual obligations, the following instructions are issued to the relevant structures and authorities:
The Supervisory Board of the Open Joint-Stock Company “Rogun Hydropower Plant” shall take the necessary measures to commission the intermediate facilities and subsequent generating capacities of the hydropower plant within the established deadlines.
The Republican Headquarters for the Construction and Commissioning of the Rogun Hydropower Plant’s Generating Capacity shall ensure the mandatory implementation of works in accordance with the approved schedule and establish strict control over their coordination.
The Open Joint-Stock Company “Rogun Hydropower Plant,” together with the Lot 2 contractor, shall, in order to achieve full energy independence in 2027, raise the dam height to elevation 1,185 meters and ensure that the reservoir water level is no lower than elevation 1,165 meters.
The Open Joint-Stock Company “Rogun Hydropower Plant” and “Tajikhydroelektromontazh” shall prepare the stilling basin of the right-bank spillway tunnels for the high-water period of 2027.
The Open Joint-Stock Company “Rogun Hydropower Plant,” within the framework of Lot 1 and together with “Voith Hydro,” shall take the necessary measures to commission generating unit No. 4 by September 2027.
The Energy Facilities Construction Project Implementation Group shall ensure coordination of works with the Commission for International Tenders for the Construction of Rogun Hydropower Plant Facilities, relevant ministries and agencies, consulting companies, the expert group, the World Bank, and other development partners.
The Ministry of Finance and the Energy Facilities Construction Project Implementation Group, together with the relevant ministries and agencies, shall expand cooperation with international financial organizations and other financing partners and take the necessary measures to accelerate the allocation and receipt of the funds provided for.
The Ministry of Finance, using all available opportunities and sources, shall ensure the timely payment for completed works and the procurement of construction materials, equipment, and fuel and lubricants.
The State Institution “Directorate of the Rogun Hydropower Plant Flood Zone,” together with the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population, as well as the heads of the cities and districts from which citizens are being relocated and to which they are being relocated, shall organize the resettlement of the population at the required level.
In addition, assistance shall be provided in securing employment for relocated residents, organizing vocational training courses for them, and allocating land plots for the establishment of dehkan farms.
The Service for State Supervision of Safe Operations in Industry and Mining Supervision shall take additional measures to prevent emergency situations at the site and ensure the safety of workers engaged in the construction of the hydropower plant, as well as strengthen control in this area.
Dear builders of the Rogun Hydropower Plant, heads and activists of Rogun City!
The subsequent stages of the construction of Rogun are of key importance not only for completing one of the world’s largest hydropower facilities, but also for achieving Tajikistan’s strategic goals — attaining energy independence, accelerating industrialization, and ensuring sustainable development of the national economy.
I once again declare that in the course of constructing the hydropower plant, you have demonstrated unparalleled resilience and courage, transforming this great construction project of the century — an embodiment of the aspirations of the worthy people of Tajikistan — into a space of national honor and dignity and an arena for demonstrating patriotism and love for the Motherland.
I emphasize that bringing the dam height to elevation 1,155 meters is a worthy gift from you for the glorious 35th anniversary of the State Independence of Tajikistan.
I have complete confidence in the responsibility, experience, and conscientious work of the builders of Rogun.
Once again, I congratulate all of you on the 35th anniversary of the State Independence of Tajikistan and confidently declare that, thanks to the dedicated efforts of each of you, construction of this historic project will be completed within the established timeframe and to a high standard of quality.
May you be healthy, proud, and successful, courageous builders of the historic project of our Motherland!
