The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) intends to increase funding for the project to build the region’s largest hydroelectric power station «Rogun» and other priority areas of the economy of Tajikistan. The corresponding agreement was reached following a meeting of the Tajik delegation led by the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic Zavki Zavkizoda with the President of the bank Mohammed Suleiman al-Jasser, held as part of the annual meeting of the IDB Group in Algeria.
According to the press service of the ministry, Zavkizoda asked to increase funding for the development of green energy, in particular, for the construction of the Rogun hydroelectric power station, as well as for the construction of roads, educational institutions, logistics centers, irrigation of farmland, the creation of textile enterprises, the production of halal products, development trade, tourism, banking system, strengthening the country’s export potential, development of the private sector and preventing the consequences of climate change. In response, the head of the IDB «expressed his readiness to increase funding for projects in these areas, as well as to strengthen further cooperation». In addition, the parties agreed to continue to ensure the implementation of the partnership strategy between Tajikistan and the IDB for 2023-2026.
Founded in 1973, the IDB is an international financial organization. Tajikistan joined the bank in 1996. According to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic, since the beginning of cooperation, the IDB group has invested more than $916 million in the national economy. In April 2024, the bank’s board of directors approved $550 million in financing for the construction of the Rogun hydroelectric power station, including $150 million — from its own funds and $400 million — from Arab development funds.
Construction of the Rogun hydroelectric power station, located 110 km from Dushanbe on the Vakhsh River, began in 1976, but was mothballed after the collapse of the USSR. Later, Tajikistan continued work on the construction of hydroelectric power stations; of the six units with a capacity of 600 MW provided for by the project, two have been launched so far, the launch of the third is planned for 2025. Once all six units are operational, the plant will have a capacity of 3.6 GW, and the 335-meter-high dam will be the highest in the world.
In December 2024, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon noted in a message to parliament that over the past two years, about $826 million was allocated from the state budget for the construction of hydroelectric power stations. It was previously reported that about $6.2 billion is needed to complete the construction of the station. According to the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan, at the end of 2024, $1.5 billion of funds from international financial institutions were raised for the construction of hydroelectric power stations, of which $350 million — grant funds.
