DUSHANBE, 14.01.2025 (NIAT Khovar) – Tajikistan’s water and hydropower sources, including the Vakhsh River, have attracted the attention of industry specialists from the very beginning. Tajikistan’s water resources rank second in the former Soviet Union after Russia. It is not for nothing that the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon expressed that “The Almighty has endowed the people of Tajikistan with priceless benefits, abundant rivers and energy resources on our land, unlike many other countries.”

Tajikistan ranks third in the world in terms of energy resources. Geological and hydrological surveys began in the Rogun region back in the 20-30s of the last century. In the early 1960s, it was decided to use the Vakhsh River to generate electricity and irrigate land. To this end, a technical project for the Rogun hydroelectric power plant (HPP) was developed in 1978, which was approved by the Council of Ministers of the former Soviet Union in 1980. Until 1990, construction and installation work continued at the facility, and the dam of the first stage of the station was raised by 40 meters. However, due to the collapse of the Soviet Union and further underfunding of the facility, work was suspended. In May 1993, due to heavy rains, the structure was flooded, the dam was completely washed away and destroyed.

Later, the building was destroyed for many years. Fortunately for the people of Tajikistan, after the establishment of peace and stability, national unity, expansion of cooperation and economic progress, it was on the initiative of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, that a reliable foundation was established for the revival and construction of the nation’s fateful facility — the Rogun HPP, which will be written in golden letters in the history of the Tajik people and nation.

In accordance with the Governmental Decree dated August 31, 2007, the Open Joint-Stock Company “Rogun HPP» was established for the purpose of reconstruction and construction of this strategically important facility.

The feasibility study of the Rogun project was carried out under the direct supervision of the World Bank by the international consortium Coen-et Belleye (France), Electroconsult (Italy), IPI (Great Britain), and the assessment of its environmental and social situation was carried out by the Swiss company Poiri Energy.

World Bank experts took direct part in this long and complex examination.

In 2014, the world was informed of the transparent conclusion of international experts and the World Bank on the feasibility of the Rogun project and the construction of this “Palace of Light”.

During the transparent examination of the project, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, drew special attention to the fact that it inspired domestic engineers and specialists in the field of hydropower engineering of the republic.

On October 29, 2016, with the participation of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the bed of the Vakhsh River was changed, the foundation of the world’s tallest hydropower facility, the 335–meter-high Rogun HPP dam, was laid.

On November 16, 2018, the first unit of the Rogun HPP was commissioned by the President in the presence of numerous participants in this glorious campaign, members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tajikistan, poets and writers, intellectuals, guests and citizens of the country.

On September 9, 2019, on Independence Day, the second unit of the Rogun began generating electricity with the press of a symbolic button by President and to this day serves for the benefit of the national economy and the prosperity of beloved Tajikistan.

In 2018, in order to connect the generated electricity to the unified energy system of the republic, it was commissioned a switchgear production building equipped with the most modern world equipment and a 500 kV Dushanbe-Rogun high-voltage power transmission line, which is currently operating very efficiently.

Currently, the first two power units of the hydroelectric power plant, operating at minimum capacity depending on the reservoir level, generate electricity with a capacity of 260 MW/h per day.

The Rogun HPP is the largest on the Vakhsh River. The design capacity is 3600 MW, it consists of 6 units of 600 MW each, the dam height is 335 meters, the reservoir volume is more than 13.3 billion cubic meters.

The construction of the plant is extremely important for the socio-economic and cultural development of independent Tajikistan. Tajikistan is becoming an electricity exporting state, dozens of new industrial enterprises are being created, thousands of new jobs are being created, and the capacity to produce goods for export is increasing.

According to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Rogun is the prosperity and well-being of today and tomorrow’s Tajikistan, unprecedented development of industry and agriculture, and most importantly, daylight and warmth for every family of our people!

Rogun is the most important means of improving the standard and quality of life of the population, an incentive for the development of education and healthcare, science and culture, effective and sustainable operation of hospitals, orphanages, nursing homes and important social facilities.

The plant is not only a grandiose construction, but also an undeniable proof of the power of the Tajik people, a symbol of creative potential and the connection of man with nature. In a space where water and energy are a symbol of life, the role of this hydroelectric power plant as a source of energy, development and power of the country is deeply felt.

In the 21st century, when digitalization and innovation have become an integral part of modern life, the Rogun is becoming a center of technological harmony, moving towards a bright future with clear high goals.

In the heart of Tajikistan’s high mountains, where the Rogun HPP is a miracle, modern technology and technological innovation are being effectively used.

The Innovation and Digitalization Department acts as a beacon and enables Rogun HPP Joint Stock Company to be recognized not only as a major HPP, but also as a leading example in the field of innovation and digital technologies.

Digitalization, like a golden key, opens the door to efficiency and automation. At Rogun HPP, automation of work processes not only increases the speed and accuracy of employees’ daily activities, but also connects them to a world where every step is in step with advanced technologies.

The ERP, CRM and cloud platforms that will be launched are like streams carrying living waters to every corner of this «energy city». The employees of the plant can now work in an atmosphere where speed and compliance with global trends are an integral part.

Imagine a future where artificial intelligence will help engineers perform complex data processing processes with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The Innovation and Digitalization Department has already taken the first steps in this direction.

In addition, improving the digital literacy of employees is an important part of the work. Their training contributes not only to the use of technology, but also to the formation of a creative and adaptive culture. This culture lays the foundation on which human potential is combined with the power of technology.

A structure focused on innovation and digitalization gives its activities a strong belief that the Rogun HPP will act as a leading example of cooperation with the digital era. Under the leadership of talented people and using the latest technology, the Rogun HPP will illuminate the future of Tajikistan.

From the heart of the mountains, light flows into the sky of the country’s future, emanating not only from electricity, but also from the human mind and its harmonious power with the world.

The 21st century — the century of technology and artificial intelligence leads the world society to a new innovative and scientific stage. In this process, President Emomali Rahmon, with his wise and far-sighted policy, has turned Tajikistan into a place of development and integration with world trends. He has always paid special attention to the use of modern technologies and the introduction of innovations in all areas. The technology and digitalization are defined as one of the priority areas in the Development Strategy of Tajikistan until 2030. Artificial intelligence as one of the main factors of technological development is in the center of attention of the President. At his initiative, important measures are being implemented in Tajikistan to study and implement artificial intelligence.

Today, the Rogun HPP, in accordance with the instructions, directions and orders of the Head of State, has become an arena of honor and dignity, labor, as a true symbol of patriotism, a guarantee of today’s and tomorrow’s prosperity of the glorious people of the country, the prosperity of an independent state and a creative Tajik nation.

History has today placed a great mission on the shoulders of the free and self-aware Tajik people — the construction of the «Palace of Light», which is both a huge responsibility and great pride. Such a great national responsibility and honor are well understood by the workers of this fateful facility under the guidance of qualified specialists and effectively use the conditions and opportunities for high-quality performance of work.

The builders of Rogun are determined, in accordance with the guidelines of the Head of State, to expand the construction of facilities reflecting the millennial aspirations and dreams of the Tajik people, to commission the next capacity of the hydroelectric power station within the established time frame and fully ensure the country’s energy independence.

Emomali Rahmon, is truly right when he repeatedly emphasized: “The day is not far off when we will build this fateful facility for our native Tajikistan and lay a solid foundation for a bright future for our ancestral homeland and a dignified life for our children.”

Any nation that wants to strengthen its position in the competitive world space must keep up with the times and direct its destiny to new directions of science and technology.

Therefore, the President of Tajikistan in his Address to the Supreme Assembly declared 2025-2030 as Years of Digital Economy and Innovation Development. This decision marks the beginning of a new historical stage in which the future of the country will be illuminated by the power of modern innovations and technologies.

In this five-year period, Tajikistan is taking serious steps towards the future to change the living space of people with the help of digital technologies and innovations. These years will be a time of revival of opinions and opportunities. Every Tajik citizen — from a simple farmer to a talented engineer — will feel an integral part of these changes.

These years will be the years of creating the future, combining rich national traditions with modernity, years of development, about which every citizen can say to himself: “I will also contribute to building a modern Tajikistan.”

The reflections of this initiative lead Tajikistan to a new generation that will shape the future. To this end, we will all build new palaces of science and innovation together.

Mehriddin TOHIRZODA,
Director of Innovations and Digitalization of Socio-Economic Spheres of JSC “Rohun HPP”,
Candidate of Economic Sciences