Milan, November 16, 2018 – Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon set the first turbine of the Rogun hydropower plant in motion at a ceremony to mark the latest milestone in this ambitious project to double the country’s energy production. The ceremony was attended by thousands of government officials, special guests, experts and workers who are involved in the construction of the plant alongside Salini Impregilo.

President Rahmon watched as Unit 6 came to life in the dam’s power house in the presence of government officials and foreign dignitaries.

Unit 6 is the first of six being installed. With each having a capacity of 600 megawatts (MW), the total installed capacity will eventually be 3,600 MW, making Rogun the most powerful hydroelectric station in Central Asia.

A second unit is expected to start producing electricity by 2019 in what is called early generation: putting into operation part of the dam before it is completed. The early start of the units will allow Tajikistan to cope with internal demand for electricity, especially during the winter months. It will also be able to export of part of the electricity produced to neighbouring countries.

Located in the upper reaches of the Vakhsh River in the Pamir Mountains, Rogun is about 90 kilometres from Dushanbe, the capital.

Commissioned by Rogun HPP, the rockfill dam with a loam core is being built by Salini Impregilo to become the tallest dam in the world at 335 metres. Salini Impregilo is doing the main civil works for the the dam and related services. With the dam crest at an elevation of 1,300 meters above the sea level, Rogun will also become the world's highest dam, breaking the record held by the Nurek Dam, also in Tajikistan.

The project confirms Salini Impregilo’s expertise in the water sector worldwide. Other works include the Anacostia River Tunnel in Washington, D.C., the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia and the new Panama Canal.