SANAA, Nov. 16 (Saba) - Tajikistan on Friday opened a giant hydroelectric dam at a cost of $ 3.9 billion in a major project that would allow the Central Asian country to eliminate chronic electricity shortages and export electricity.
The dam, built on a crumbling river in southern Tajikistan, is expected to reach 335 meters (1,099 feet) in 10 years, making it the world's largest hydroelectric dam.
Today, the first turbine of six turbines will be operated at the dam built at Rogun, 100 km east of the capital.
The total production capacity is expected to reach 3600 MW, equivalent to the production of three nuclear plants.
In 2016, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon stepped on a giant bulldozer at the project site, a sign of his personal commitment to the ambitious project.
The project will double electricity production in the country of 9 million people, eliminating chronic electricity shortages and allowing Tajikistan to export surplus electricity to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Plans to build the dam date back to the Soviet era, but momentum intensified after the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991.
In the year 2017, Tajikistan was able to get $ 500 million after the issuance of international bonds to finance the construction of the dam.
Tajikistan hopes that the start-up of the dam's electricity will provide funds to finance other projects.
Saba
The dam, built on a crumbling river in southern Tajikistan, is expected to reach 335 meters (1,099 feet) in 10 years, making it the world's largest hydroelectric dam.
Today, the first turbine of six turbines will be operated at the dam built at Rogun, 100 km east of the capital.
The total production capacity is expected to reach 3600 MW, equivalent to the production of three nuclear plants.
In 2016, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon stepped on a giant bulldozer at the project site, a sign of his personal commitment to the ambitious project.
The project will double electricity production in the country of 9 million people, eliminating chronic electricity shortages and allowing Tajikistan to export surplus electricity to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Plans to build the dam date back to the Soviet era, but momentum intensified after the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991.
In the year 2017, Tajikistan was able to get $ 500 million after the issuance of international bonds to finance the construction of the dam.
Tajikistan hopes that the start-up of the dam's electricity will provide funds to finance other projects.
Saba