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Uzbekistan Wants To Produce Drinking Water From the Air

Uzbekistan has tested an innovative unit for extracting moisture from the atmosphere to create drinking water. Sergei Dorzhiev, head of the Russian company Aquagenica which developed the technology, states that it was previously utilized in Russia and African countries, but more difficult climatic conditions were required for the final test of the equipment, which is why the Kyzylkum desert was chosen. The plant, which was launched in the Navoi Free Economic Zone (FEZ) in July, has now completed its tests, and according to FEZ director Habib Abdullayev, the equipment can produce up to 1,000 liters of clean water daily. “The machine works in extreme conditions of hot-dry climate with water content from 4 g/m3 and higher in atmospheric air and in the temperature range from 10-70 degrees Celsius. At the same time, foreign analogs extract water from the air at a humidity of 8-10 g/m3 of air and above in the temperature range of 20-40 degrees Celsius. We expect our installation will help solve problems with access to good quality drinking water,” said Dorzhiev. The unusual installation is expected to begin serial production in 2025. More than 30 African and Asian countries have already expressed interest in producing equipment for extracting water from the air. In various countries, atmospheric moisture extraction technologies are becoming an important solution to freshwater scarcity. One of the most promising approaches is using atmospheric water generators (AWGs), capable of producing potable water from moisture in the air. In the United States, such plants have been successfully used to help provide clean water to communities. Similar technologies have also been implemented in the United Arab Emirates.

Ecological Limit: Five Year Countdown to Water Scarcity in Central Asia

Combating climate change requires collective action by all or a sufficient majority of the world's players supporting global initiatives. Otherwise, it may soon be too late to take any action. To address the issue, the Eurasian Development Bank, the CAREC Think Tank, and the Asian Development Bank organized a two-day forum entitled “The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action,” in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Focusing on means of achieving genuine regional cooperation on Asian climate action, the eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum was attended by policymakers, experts, and opinion leaders from more than 30 countries. The extensive two-day dialog, consisting of eight sessions, opened with a discussion on the effectiveness of current global initiatives related to climate change: the Paris Agreement, the Global Environment Facility, and the Green Climate Fund. Attention then turned to deepening cooperation among as many stakeholders as possible through multilateral platforms such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Asia's role in the global fight against climate change, and the difficult balancing act between economic growth and decarbonization efforts were discussed at length. Simply put, the rapid growth of the Asian economy is inevitably accompanied by an increasing consumption of energy, the generation of which leads to increased emissions and pollution. Climate damage due to human impact can be halted and even reversed. However, because this can only be achieved with technological intervention, it poses problems for developing economies unable to afford advanced technologies. Hence, establishing a framework and mechanisms for global technology transfer were key to discussions. Water and finance were also high on the agenda and the subject of a paper presented by Arman Ahunbaev, Head of the Center for Infrastructure and Industrial Research of the Eurasian Development Bank on “Ways to close the investment gap in the drinking water supply and wastewater sector in Central Asia." Ahunbaev reported that 10 million people, or 14% of the population in Central Asia, do not have access to safe drinking water and warned that without intervention, the situation would reach the point of no return in the coming years. To prevent this from happening, he stressed the urgent need for solutions to four problems. The first problem is a twofold increase in the volume of water intake for municipal and domestic needs, based on past figures which showed a growth from 4.2 cubic kilometers in 1994 to 8.6 cubic kilometers in 2020. The second problem is the severe deterioration of water supply infrastructure and treatment equipment, and the third, technological and commercial water losses in distribution networks. The fourth problem is related to the demographic boom and, consequently, the rapid urbanization of Central Asia's population. Cities are expanding and  their infrastructure needs to develop accordingly. According to experts, in 2023, urbanization in Central Asian countries will reach 49%, and by 2050, 61%. By 2030, the urban population will exceed that in rural areas. Ahunbaev noted the need for improvement in financing the water supply and sanitation sector in Central Asia since according to rough...

Focus on Central Asia’s Acute Shortage of Drinking Water

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has declared water availability a particularly acute challenge in Central Asia, given that 10 million people, or 14% of the region’s population, currently lack access to safe drinking water. Between 1994 and 2020, water withdrawals for municipal and domestic needs doubled to 8.6 cubic kilometres. However, since investment in drinking water falls short of meeting the growing demand, the infrastructure for the supply and treatment of water has severely deteriorated. The challenges facing the sector highlight the need for large-scale investment in water supply and sanitation in Central Asia. The annual funding deficit to meet the targets of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all) is estimated to reach US $2 billion by 2025–2030. In response, EDB analysts have prepared a report to assess the level of investment required by the region to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal by 2030, including proposals for practical steps to secure the necessary funding. Titled “Water and Sanitation in Central Asia”, the report will be launched on 28 June at the Eurasian Development Bank’s Business Forum in Almaty, Kazakhstan.  

EU and Partner Banks Upgrade Water Supply in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan

A new water intake facility has been launched in the Cholpon-Ata resort at Kyrgyzstan’s Lake Issyk-Kul thanks to a joint investment of EUR 5.1 million from the European Union, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The opening ceremony on 11 May was attended by the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov. The European Union’s grant of EUR 3.1 million, combined with an EIB and EBRD investment loan of EUR 2.25 million, funded vital improvements to the city’s water supply system which had not been upgraded since it began operating in 1986. According to the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, by helping eliminate the risk of water-borne diseases, the project has provided over 19,000 citizens of Cholpon-Ata with regular access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. To date, grants exceeding EUR 100 million from the EU have leveraged EUR 205 million investments to support Kyrgyzstan’s drinking water, solid waste management, and energy services, benefitting over 376,000 citizens in 14 cities and eight villages across the country.  

USAID Aids Access to Safe Drinking Water in Tajikistan

A new water supply system to provide safe drinking water for more than 3,000 people across 455 households has been inaugurated in the village of Rohati in Tajikistan’s Rudaki District. Supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), it is but one of the 12 communities now furnished with rehabilitated water supply systems through public-private partnerships. To ensure the project’s sustainability, USAID helped Rohati’s private water operator develop a sound business plan for its water system, introduced electronic billing, and assisted with the installation of water meters in households. Speaking at the opening ceremony on April 12, USAID Tajikistan Mission Director Peter Riley stated, “The U.S. Government believes that everyone has the right to safe drinking water. USAID strives to increase access to safe drinking water across all regions of Tajikistan. Access to safe drinking water is of critical importance to protecting public health, dignity, equity, and our environment and USAID is committed to that goal.” In the last five years, USAID has rehabilitated and constructed 30 drinking water supply systems throughout Tajikistan, providing more than 100,000 people with safe drinking water.