The World's Best Construction Podcast The World's Tallest Megadam Will Block Central Asia - #166
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Nov 20, 2025 Discover the fascinating tale of Tajikistan's Rogun Dam, a massive Soviet-era project finally nearing completion after decades of delays. Explore the challenges it faced, from unstable geology to seismic risks, and its transformative potential for the local economy. The hosts also discuss Saudi Arabia's ambitious 12 million square meter King Salman Gate project and its implications for pilgrimage access. Finally, dive into Albania's innovative spherical sports venue design, which has sparked a wave of public reaction and memes!
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Rogun Dam Is A Nation-Changing Project
- Tajikistan's Rogun Dam is a 335m-high project revived from Soviet-era plans and restarted in 2016 by WeBuild.
- The dam promises energy independence and major economic transformation for Tajikistan but required complex seismic and geological solutions.
Half-Century Pause After Soviet Collapse
- The Rogun Dam began under the USSR in 1976 then stalled after the Soviet collapse and Tajikistan's civil war.
- The site was looted, engineers left, and a 1993 flood destroyed previous works, leaving the project dormant for decades.
Engineering Choice: Clay-Core For Seismic Zones
- WeBuild resumed construction in 2016, completing diversion tunnels and building a compacted clay core dam.
- Using a clay core with rockfill gives flexibility for seismic risk compared with monolithic concrete.