Qatar Fund for Development Signs Loan Agreement for Tajikistan's Rogun Project

The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has signed a loan agreement worth QAR 182 million (approximately US$49.1 million) with the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan to support the construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant.

The agreement was signed during an official visit by a QFFD delegation led by Director General Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, attended by senior Tajik government officials. The delegation also visited the project site to review progress, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

The Rogun Hydropower Project involves building a 335m-high clay core rockfill dam on the Vakhsh River in the Pamir mountain range. Once completed, it will be the tallest dam in the world. The project aims to double Tajikistan’s electricity production and reduce recurring winter energy shortages.

The facility is expected to include six turbines with a total installed capacity of 3600MW. The first two turbines have already been activated. Construction of the Rogun Dam was initiated on 29 October 2016, with the first unit inaugurated on 16 November 2018.

Initial construction required diverting the Vakhsh River through underground tunnels to keep the foundations dry, a process that could only be carried out during the winter when water levels were lower.

The Rogun project is being constructed in stages through a partnership between Webuild and the state-run OJSC “Rogun Hydropower Project.”

Earlier this year the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved $270 million in financing for the first phase of a $500 million program to support the completion of the project.

Tajikistan has significant hydropower potential, ranking eighth globally, but only about 4% of this potential is currently utilized. Rogun is expected to play a key role in decarbonizing electricity grids across Central Asia, supporting regional climate goals. It will also provide affordable renewable energy, improve energy storage, and integrate large-scale solar and wind power, creating a cleaner and more reliable electricity supply.