In preparation for potential floods next spring, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is gradually releasing water from reservoirs in the country’s northern, western, central, and eastern regions to ensure they can receive snowmelt water in case of flooding.

In Kostanay Region, the Karatomar reservoir releases 50 cubic meters of water per second.

In Aktobe Region, the Kargalinsky reservoir discharges 15 cubic meters of water per second, and 107 million cubic meters of water were released from the Aktobe reservoir from August 23 to October 1.

In western Kazakhstan, three cubic meters of water per second are released from the Kirov reservoir, 13 cubic meters per second from the Bitik reservoir, six cubic meters from the Dunguluk reservoir, and five cubic meters from the Pyatimar reservoir.

At the same time, reservoirs in dry southern regions of Kazakhstan keep accumulating water for next year’s growing season.

Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurlan Aldamzharov commented that the country’s reservoirs accumulated 75 billion cubic meters of water this past spring, 15 billion cubic meters more than last year. More than 12 billion cubic meters of that water was flood water.

In the spring of 2024, Kazakhstan’s western and northern regions suffered from unprecedented floods caused by the rapid snowmelt. The floods destroyed thousands of homes and forced almost 100,000 people to evacuate from flood zones.

During a recent meeting between the Assistant to the President of Uzbekistan Saida Mirziyoyeva and Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, bilateral cooperation agreements were signed between the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan, the Aga Khan Trust, and the Qatar Development Foundation.

These agreements envisage not only financial support, but also the exchange of experience in the field of restoration of cultural monuments. In particular, the talks focused on restoring the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built in the 15th century by Timur and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

According to local media reports, Qatar will actively revitalize this important monument, which attracts tourists from all over the world. Although details of the funding have not yet been disclosed, the work is expected to restore the mosque to its historic appearance, preserving its uniqueness for future generations.

The Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand was built on the orders of Timur (Tamerlane) after his victorious campaign to India in 1399. The construction used 95 elephants to transport materials. Its high tympanum coated in cobalt blue tile-work, the Mosque stands in a grassy courtyard around a large marble carving of the Quran. Named after Timur’s Chinese wife, local folklore tells how the architect fell in love with her and stole a kiss. Escaping the wrath of Timur by jumping from the minaret, he sprouted wings and flew to Mecca.

At its peak, the mosque could hold up to 10,000 worshipers and became a symbol of Timur’s greatness; however, due to its enormous size, the structure began to deteriorate before it was completed. Since then, the building has undergone numerous restorations, especially during the Soviet era.

Speaking at a briefing, Secretary of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Erman said that 76 polling stations in 61 countries abroad will be opened for citizens to participate in the referendum on constructing nuclear power plants. However, the polling station in Lebanon will not open due to the current situation there.

“Just today, we held consultations with the Foreign Ministry, and we received information from our colleagues that one polling station in Lebanon will not be opened because, you know, there are full-scale hostilities in that country. The situation there is tough; we cannot risk our voters’ and fellow citizens’ lives and health. That is why there are currently 76 polling stations and 61 countries,” Erman said, noting that all procedures relating to voting abroad — opening of polling stations, counting of votes, and transfer of information — will be carried out in strict accordance with Kazakhstan’s current legislation.

Earlier, The Times of Central Asia reported that 177 international observers from 30 countries and four international organizations will monitor the referendum on NPP in Kazakhstan. In addition, on the day of the referendum, 200 foreign journalists from 37 countries will be on the ground to ensure the transparency and objectivity of the referendum.

The idea of holding the referendum, which will be held on October 6, 2024, emerged against the backdrop of regular problems with energy supply and the need to modernize infrastructure. An active debate has accompanied the move.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the forecasts for Uzbekistan’s economy are optimistic. The economy continues to grow actively; however, risks and opportunities remain. Maintaining macroeconomic stability and continuing to implement structural reforms is necessary to sustain high growth rates, restore buffer stocks, and protect against external shocks.

The economy grew by 6.4% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. Due to an increase in energy prices in early May, overall inflation increased from 8% at the end of April to around 10.5% recently. The underlying inflation rate rose more moderately, reaching 7% in August, up by one percentage point since June. Remittances increased by 32% in the first seven months of 2024, and international reserves are still substantial, covering 9.5 months of imports as of August.

Economic growth is expected to stay above 5.5% this year and next, driven by strong investments and reforms. Inflation is predicted to gradually decline due to tighter monetary and fiscal policies and the fading impact of energy price hikes. The current account deficit is expected to decrease to 6.25% of GDP in 2024 and 6.1% in 2025, supported by strong exports, remittances, and fewer large machinery imports. Risks include regional challenges, fluctuating commodity prices, a possible global slowdown, and issues with state-owned enterprises or partnerships. Opportunities may come from increased financial flows, remittances, and higher gold prices.

The impact of energy price hikes in May 2024 and wage increases in September-October 2024 could lead to higher inflation. Experts recommend that the Central Bank of Uzbekistan keep interest rates high until there is clear evidence of inflation decreasing. The bank should also be prepared to raise rates further if inflation rises more than expected.