The World Bank is facing growing criticism over its involvement in the controversial Rogun Dam project in Tajikistan, amid allegations that it failed to follow proper procedures in assessing potential environmental and socio-economic risks.
On April 8, the Bank’s Inspection Panel—an independent oversight body—announced the registration of a formal Request for Inspection regarding the Rogun hydropower project (HPP). This request, effectively a complaint, triggers a three-week window for World Bank officials to respond before the panel decides whether to initiate a full investigation.
The complaint was filed in February by two citizens from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, with support from the environmental NGO Rivers without Boundaries, based in Kazakhstan.
In a public statement, the organization warned that the incomplete Rogun Dam poses a “colossal threat” to regional environmental stability and the livelihoods of millions in Central Asia. The complaint accuses the World Bank of approving funding for the project based on an outdated and inadequate Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) that failed to account for cross-border impacts in the Amu Darya River basin.
Describing Rogun as one of the “most expensive and time-consuming false solutions” for Tajikistan’s energy needs, the group also cited a 2024 study arguing the dam is at risk of becoming obsolete before it ever reaches full operational capacity. The total cost of the project is projected to exceed $8 billion.
Despite these concerns, the World Bank approved a $350 million grant in December to help complete the first phase of construction. Once finished, Rogun would become the tallest dam in the world, generating up to 3,600 megawatts of electricity annually. The Bank has described the project as a “transformative clean energy initiative” aimed at boosting energy security and supporting decarbonization in the region.
However, the Inspection Panel has deemed the complaint credible, stating it is “not frivolous, absurd, or anonymous.” Among the central allegations is that Bank officials relied on flawed and outdated data to assess the dam’s environmental impact. Critics warn the reservoir created by the dam could reduce water flow in the Amu Darya by at least 25%, triggering a “progressive catastrophe” for as many as 10 million people downstream.
One of the most serious claims is that the Bank failed to ensure proper disclosure of project safeguards and did not conduct meaningful public consultations in Tajikistan or neighboring countries likely to be affected.
The controversy places a spotlight on the broader issue of transboundary water management in Central Asia and raises questions about the World Bank’s due diligence and accountability in large-scale infrastructure investments.
