World Bank Allocates $15M for Rogun Hydropower Plant in Tajikistan
The World Bank is allocating $15 million for a technical assistance program to prepare for the completion of the Rogun Hydropower Plant in Tajikistan. The grant funds are directed toward aligning project documentation and management processes with international standards. This procedure is necessary to attract the main financing package from foreign investors. The implementation of the program is scheduled to run until April 2031.
The largest portion of the allocated grant – $6.3 million – will be used to enhance the safety of the hydraulic structures. For this purpose, an international group of independent experts is being formed to conduct an audit of the design and construction work. Another $5.2 million is earmarked for addressing environmental and social issues. This segment includes adapting the facility’s parameters to the specific requirements of the World Bank, developing a contractor monitoring system, and creating a mechanism for distributing revenue from the plant’s operation to support the development of local communities.
Two million dollars have been allocated for the formation of the commercial structure of the Rogun Hydropower Plant. Financial consultants will be engaged to develop a macroeconomically sound construction completion schedule, prepare a capital mobilization plan, and assist the national government in signing long-term power purchase agreements. The remaining $1.5 million will be directed toward the operational needs of the project management group. These funds will cover equipment procurement, annual financial audits, and staff training.
The program operator is the Project Implementation Group for the Construction of Energy Facilities under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan. The local team has experience working with government contracts but requires additional training to conduct procurement according to the rules of international financial institutions. Market analysis indicates high interest from global engineering and consulting companies. Contracts with highly specialized professionals – including dam engineers, hydrologists, seismologists, and ecologists – will be concluded directly on an individual basis due to strict qualification requirements.
The Rogun Hydropower Plant is being constructed on the Vakhsh River, 110 kilometers east of Dushanbe and 70 kilometers upstream from the operational Nurek Hydropower Plant. The project entails the construction of a 335-meter dam, and the installed capacity of the hydroelectric facility will reach 3,780 megawatts.
