Kazakhstan Environment - The Times Of Central Asia

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Securing Central Asia’s Future: EBRD’s Regional Head on the Fight for Water Sustainability

Every fourth inhabitant of Central Asia, home to more than 83 million people, does not have regular access to safe drinking water. The region spans more than four million square kilometers, and over 15% of its territory is covered by the Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts, as well as waterless places such as the Ustyurt Plateau (similar in size to the United Kingdom), which stretches across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The extreme heat common to Central Asia in summer makes water a precious resource. To make matters worse, irresponsible human activity, particularly wasteful water use for irrigation, has led to one of the most devastating ecological catastrophes globally. The Aral Sea, where up to 60,000 tonnes of fish were caught annually only 30 years ago, has practically ceased to exist. Most of Central Asia’s freshwater intake relies on glacial melts affected by global warming. The World Resources Institute forecast in its 2023 Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas that an additional one billion people globally will live with extremely high water stress by 2050. This will disrupt economies and agricultural production. Most Central Asian countries will be severely affected. While the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) cannot reverse the global warming process or tackle its impacts alone, it can certainly contribute to climate change mitigation efforts, securing better water access, and promoting its rational use. There is frequently no water supply or water treatment infrastructure in rural areas of the regions where it invests. Most municipal water supply and treatment utilities across Central Asia have not seen much investment or refurbishment over the last 30 years. The EBRD has been working to address this issue, and many of its investment projects are already impacting people’s lives. [caption id="attachment_29070" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Image: EBRD[/caption] In Kazakhstan, the Bank’s work with Vodnye Resoursy Marketing (VRM)/Shymkent water company, the country’s only privately owned municipal water utility, perfectly illustrates why the EBRD is such a strong advocate of private-sector involvement in the provision of municipal services. Over many years, we have enjoyed excellent cooperation with this company, which has translated into high-quality water supply services for more than 1.2 million residents of Shymkent. It has become a benchmark for the region for its effective and efficient operations. Thanks to VRM’s efforts, with 1.2 million residents, Shymkent became the first city in Kazakhstan to install a water meter for every consumer. User habits have changed: personal daily water consumption has decreased from 456 liters 27 years ago to 150 liters. The water savings achieved during this period will enable Shymkent to meet the needs of its population for another 20 years. The EBRD started working with VRM in 2009 and has financed five projects totaling €60 million. With the Bank’s financial assistance, VRM has introduced an automated network monitoring system, improved power supply at twelve pumping stations, constructed eleven electrical substations, and built a European Union standards-compliant biogas facility (the only one of its kind in Central Asia), which helps VRM to meet all of its thermal...

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Magnus Carlsen Criticizes Almaty’s Air Quality After Chess Championship

Former world chess champion Magnus Carlsen has spoken about the challenges he faced while competing in the World Rapid Chess Championship in Kazakhstan. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the Norwegian grandmaster revealed that Almaty’s poor air quality forced him to seek refuge in the mountains to recover and breathe fresh air. Carlsen described the tournament venue as a “strange place,” noting that Almaty suffers from severe air pollution in winter, creating an uncomfortable environment. To cope, he traveled to a mountainous area about an hour from the city, where he said the landscape resembled the Swiss Alps, with peaks reaching 3,500 meters. This trip caused Carlsen to be late for his match against Belarusian grandmaster Vladislav Kovalev. He started the game 2.5 minutes behind schedule, a significant disadvantage in a format where players have just three minutes for the entire game, plus two seconds per move. Despite the setback, Carlsen won both the match and the championship. “I was so miserable in the city that I realized if I wanted to keep playing, I needed to get out and get some fresh air. I decided to take the risk, and it worked,” he said in an interview. The tournament began on December 25, 2022, in Almaty, with a total prize fund of $1 million, fully sponsored by general partner Freedom Broker. Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players in history, held the world championship title from 2013 to 2023. He has won the World Rapid Chess Championship five times, claimed eight Blitz Chess titles, and secured victory in the 2023 FIDE World Cup.

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Experts Warn Central Asia Faces Chronic Water Shortage by 2028

Central Asia is heading toward a severe water crisis as climate change, population growth, and outdated infrastructure put increasing pressure on the region’s water resources, experts have warned. At a recent roundtable on climate change and water management, Stanislav Pritchin, head of the Central Asia sector at the Russian Academy of Sciences, highlighted the growing threat. Climate change is a major factor, as rising temperatures accelerate glacier melt - the primary source of freshwater in Central Asia. Meanwhile, rapid population growth is driving up demand. Uzbekistan, the region’s most populous country, has seen its population increase from 22 million in 1991 to an estimated 37.5 million in 2025. Across Central Asia, the total population is approaching 80 million. Another challenge is outdated infrastructure. Pritchin noted that up to 50% of irrigation water is lost due to inefficient and aging systems. Moreover, the region lacks a strong institutional framework for managing water distribution and policy. While some cooperative projects exist - such as the joint construction of the Kambar-Ata hydropower plant - they are insufficient to address the broader crisis. In response to these challenges, on February 19, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $125 million loan to help Uzbekistan improve water security, reduce losses, and enhance distribution efficiency. The Climate-Smart Water Management Improvement Project aims to introduce advanced monitoring and management systems. Uzbekistan’s national water utility, Uzsuvtaminot, will implement digital technology to track water flow, minimize waste, and improve service delivery. The initiative will also establish a comprehensive inventory of water supply infrastructure and deploy a nationwide bulk flow metering and telemetry system. “Uzbekistan’s water resources are under acute threat from climate change and inefficient usage,” said ADB Country Director for Uzbekistan, Kanokpan Lao-Araya. “ADB’s project introduces smart water management systems to improve water usage, reduce energy consumption, and increase operational efficiency to lower Uzbekistan’s carbon footprint.” This initiative is part of Uzbekistan’s broader efforts to modernize infrastructure and prepare for future water challenges. However, experts caution that without stronger regional cooperation, no single country can fully resolve the crisis.

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Kazakhstan Fears Electric Cars Will Strain Energy Infrastructure

Kazakhstani lawmaker Nauryz Saylaubai has raised concerns over the country’s ability to support the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs), citing infrastructure challenges and regulatory gaps. In a request to First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, the Mazhilis (lower house of parliament) member called for urgent measures to address these issues. Growing Number of Electric Vehicles According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the share of electric-powered vehicles in Kazakhstan remains relatively small. As of February 1, 2025, the country had 12,655 registered electric cars, 350 electric trucks, and 189 electric buses. In contrast, there were 4.45 million gasoline-powered cars, 91,100 diesel-powered vehicles, 10,100 gas-powered cars, and 400,300 hybrid vehicles running on a mix of gasoline, gas, and electricity. Despite the low overall share, EV adoption has been accelerating. A year ago, on February 1, 2024, Kazakhstan had only 8,366 electric cars, 277 electric trucks, and 38 electric buses. This represents a 25% increase in electric cars and a fivefold rise in electric buses over the past year. Energy Infrastructure Concerns The rapid growth of EVs has raised concerns among lawmakers about the ability of Kazakhstan’s aging power grid to handle the additional demand. "It is well known that an increase in the number of electric vehicles puts additional pressure on power grids. Given that our grid infrastructure is already outdated, won't this lead to future accidents? What measures are being taken to address this issue?" Saylaubai asked. Kazakhstan’s EV market is expected to keep expanding, as electric vehicles are exempt from the country's scrappage tax and import registration fees, making them approximately 15% cheaper than conventional cars. Charging Infrastructure and Service Gaps Saylaubai also highlighted the country’s insufficient charging infrastructure. "According to international standards, the optimal ratio of electric vehicles to public charging stations should be 10 to 1. In Kazakhstan today, there is just one charging station for every 43 electric cars," the lawmaker noted. State-owned road infrastructure operator KazAutoZhol had planned to install 40 new charging stations along intercity highways in 2024, but by the end of last year, only 23 had been completed. Another major issue is the lack of service centers for EV repairs and maintenance, particularly in rural regions. Owners outside major cities struggle to find specialists and spare parts, while logistical challenges further complicate EV accessibility in remote areas. Saylaubai urged the government to develop a nationwide network of service stations and ensure the availability of spare parts. Legal Uncertainty Over Autopilot Systems The lawmaker also pointed to regulatory gaps regarding the use of autopilot features in electric vehicles. "The vast majority of electric cars are equipped with autopilot functions, but it remains unclear whether drivers are legally allowed to activate them within city limits or who would be held responsible in the event of an accident," he said. Additionally, he warned that electric cars can reach high speeds within seconds, potentially posing risks to road safety. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, Kazakhstan’s car market set a new record for...

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Kazakhstan Launches Flood Forecasting and Modeling System

Kazakhstan has launched Tasqyn, a new information system designed to forecast and model floods, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov announced during a February 18 meeting on preparations for spring floods. Currently, flood modeling is being conducted at 142 hydro posts along 128 river sections across the country. A team of 114 specialists monitors data from these hydro posts daily, entering it into the new system. The Tasqyn system is integrated with the Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS), a worldwide flood warning network. It is expected to provide a final forecast for Kazakhstan’s 2025 spring flood season in early March. According to Nurzhigitov, in addition to domestic flood preparedness efforts, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation maintains regular communication with neighboring countries to exchange hydrological data. The country has also begun controlled water releases from reservoirs to create additional capacity for melting snow runoff. Currently, Kazakhstan’s reservoirs can accommodate 13 billion cubic meters of floodwater, the minister stated. The new forecasting system is a crucial step toward preventing a repeat of the spring 2024 floods, which devastated Kazakhstan’s western and northern regions due to rapid snowmelt. The disaster destroyed thousands of homes and forced nearly 100,000 people to evacuate. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s reservoirs and lakes accumulated over 75 billion cubic meters of water in 2024, including more than 12 billion cubic meters of floodwater.

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Caspian Sea Near Aktau Turns Blood Red, Alarming Residents

The coastline of the Caspian Sea near Aktau’s 1st micro-district and the village of Akshukur has turned an unusual red hue, sparking concern among local residents. Eyewitnesses quickly took to social media, sharing photos and videos while speculating about possible causes. However, experts say there is no cause for alarm. According to Kirill Osin, head of the NGO Eco Mangistau, the change in water color is a seasonal phenomenon linked to a mass bloom of diatom algae, which can be triggered by sudden temperature fluctuations. He added that this process does not pose a threat to the region’s ecology or marine life. Despite these reassurances, the Department of Ecology of the Mangistau Region has initiated water sampling to analyze chemical and oil product content. “The research will help confirm that the changes in water coloration are caused by natural processes,” the department stated, promising to release the test results soon. Algae blooms in the Caspian Sea are a recurring phenomenon. Similar cases were recorded: 2020 – Near the embankment of Primorsky settlement. 2017 – In the 9A microdistrict area. 2018 – From the Shagala Hotel to the Nur Plaza beach. Earlier this year, residents of Kazakhstan witnessed another unusual sight when “ice flowers” formed on the Kapshagai Reservoir in the Almaty region. These delicate formations, resembling snow-white petals with pointed edges, appear under specific weather conditions on a thin layer of ice.