Rostov Region authorities have announced the commissioning date for the Bagaevsky hydroelectric complex.

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The first phase of construction of the Bagaevsky hydroelectric complex, which was opposed by residents of the Rostov region, will be completed in April, and it will finally be operational in 2028.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," in March 2016, a petition against the construction of the Bagaevsky hydroelectric complex was published on Change.org. The petition's authors cited the damage that would be caused to the Don River if it were built, specifically the risk of flooding several populated areas and environmental damage. In August 2019, it became known that authorities had postponed construction of the hydroelectric complex indefinitely.

Rostov Region Governor Yuri Slyusar stated that the first phase of construction of the Bagaevsky hydroelectric complex would be completed in early April, Donnews.ru reported on March 29.

Citing Rosmorrechflot data, Slyusar also announced that the hydroelectric complex would be fully operational in 2028.

The hydroelectric complex was initially estimated to cost 27.9 billion rubles. However, it later emerged that the project had risen to 35.8 billion rubles. Last May, Slyusar reported that the facility was 93% complete, with completion planned for this year.

It is expected that once the hydroelectric complex is operational, a bottleneck in the Don River will be eliminated, and the water level along an 85-kilometer stretch of the river will rise significantly. This will increase the Don's cargo capacity from 12 to 19 million tons, help reduce discharges from the Tsimlyansk Reservoir, and improve water management.

As a reminder, the authors of the petition against the construction of the hydroelectric complex claimed that the dam would completely destroy the Don's valuable fish stock, flood several settlements, and transform "one of the most beautiful sections of the river, with its protected islands and sandy beaches, into a reed-covered swamp with a fairway." Please note that the petition on change.org is no longer active.