The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has decided to increase its financing for the construction of Tajikistan’s Rogun Hydropower Plant (HPP) to $500 million, Asiaplus.tj reports, citing the press service of the President of Tajikistan. The announcement followed a meeting between President Emomali Rahmon and AIIB President Jin Liqun on September 1 in Tianjin, held on the sidelines of the SCO Heads of State Council.
Rahmon highlighted the bank’s contribution to infrastructure development and regional integration, noting that the AIIB is involved in four projects worth more than $430 million. These include the Rogun HPP and a major 920-meter automobile bridge in Nurabad district. According to Rahmon, further cooperation with the bank is of strategic importance for Tajikistan’s energy and economic security.
The two sides discussed new areas of collaboration, including green energy development, modernization of existing power plants, and the introduction of solar and wind capacities. Attention was also given to water resource management, disaster risk reduction, and the adoption of advanced monitoring technologies. Transport integration and attracting private investment for accelerated infrastructure development were also emphasized.
In December 2024, Tajikistan and AIIB signed a $270 million loan agreement as part of the first phase of the Rogun program. In total, the bank will provide $500 million in two tranches. Earlier, Rahmon stated that overall agreements with international partners exceed $2 billion, while negotiations are ongoing for an additional $1.7 billion.
According to S&P Global Ratings, completing the Rogun project will require around $6.4 billion. Half of this amount is expected to come from a consortium of international partners, with the remainder financed through the state budget and revenues generated by the plant. Some grant financing also depends on Tajikistan maintaining its “least developed country” status, which could be reviewed after 2026.
Rogun HPP is set to become the largest hydropower station in Central Asia, with an installed capacity of 3,780 MW and annual generation of more than 14.5 billion kWh. The final turbine is scheduled for commissioning in 2029, while two units have already been operational since 2018–2019. In 2024, the plant generated 1.22 billion kWh of electricity, accounting for about 5.5% of Tajikistan’s total power output.
For Dushanbe, the expanded support from AIIB is viewed as a crucial step toward energy independence and a cornerstone of the country’s long-term sustainable development strategy.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
September 2, 2025