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Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash Receives 13.5 billion Cubic Meters of Water in 2024

The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan announced on November 8 that 13.5 billion cubic meters of water had been sent to Lake Balkhash via the Ili River from the Kapchagay Reservoir this year, raising the lake’s average water level to 341.6 meters above sea level. The trans-boundary Ili River, originating in China, supplies about 70% of Lake Balkhash’s water. According to the ministry, this year’s average water flow at the Kazakhstan-China border was 384 cubic meters per second, a 17% increase from last year. Lake Balkhash, located 280 kilometers northwest of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, is the world’s fifteenth-largest lake. In May, reports indicated that Balkhash’s water level had risen by 23 centimeters since the start of the year, largely due to increased rainfall and snowmelt-related floods this past spring. Earlier this month, The Times of Central Asia reported that Kazakhstan and China have initiated negotiations on the joint management and allocation of water from shared rivers. A key goal for Kazakhstan in these talks is to maintain optimal water levels in Lake Balkhash. Three major rivers in Kazakhstan — the Irtysh, Ili, and Emel — originate in China, making trans-boundary water management critical for the country. In late August, The Times of Central Asia also reported that the Kapchagay Reservoir near Almaty had filled to capacity for the first time in a decade. The reservoir collects water from the Ili River and regulates its flow to Lake Balkhash.

China Diplomacy International Cooperation transboundary water Water resources

Kazakhstan and China Begin Negotiations on Joint Use of Transboundary Rivers

On November 1, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov met with Zhang Xiao, the Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, to discuss bilateral water cooperation and the joint use and distribution of water from transboundary rivers. Three large rivers in Kazakhstan — the Ertis, the Ile, and the Emel — originate in China. The two countries established a special working group of experts to negotiate the provision of water to the Ile-Balkhash basin and develop fisheries and tourism in the region. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan intends to sign a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Water Resources of China shortly. The Kazakh minister and Chinese ambassador discussed joint modernization and automation of Kazakhstan's water infrastructure, production and use of water-saving technologies, and advanced training of Kazakhstani water specialists in China. Late in August, The Times of Central Asia reported that the Kapchagay reservoir outside Almaty was full for the first time in ten years. The reservoir collects water from the Ile (or Ili) River, which originates in China and is meant to regulate the river's flow on its way to Kazakhstan’s largest lake, Balkhash.

China Environment Water Access transboundary water Balkhash water saving Water Security Lake Balkhash

Kazakhstan and China in Talks on Feeding Lake Balkhash

The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced on August 19 that Kazakhstan and China are drafting an agreement on dividing trans-boundary river waters between the two countries. The main objective of the agreement is to ensure that the water in Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash remains at an optimal level. Located 280km northwest of the country’s largest city, Almaty, Lake Balkhash is the fifteenth largest lake in the world. It is fed by several trans-boundary rivers flowing from China, the largest of which is the Ili River, which provides about 80% of the lake's water. [caption id="attachment_21931" align="aligncenter" width="1056"] Image: Wikimapia[/caption] Environmentalists in Kazakhstan have been concerned about Lake Balkhash's shallowing. Balkhash has been gradually drying up in recent years, including due to the decline in water volumes in the Ili River. Upstream China has extensively diverted the river over the past half century to produce hydroelectric power and agricultural crops on irrigated land. According to research, as of 2021 China was blocking 40% of the river’s inflow. Moldir Abdualieva, a spokesperson of the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, said that the ministry has been paying great attention to providing Lake Balkhash with the necessary volume of water. “Since the beginning of this year, more than 12 billion cubic meters of water have been sent to the lake," she said. In May, it was reported that the water level in Balkhash had risen by 23cm since the beginning of the year due to increased rainfall and floods caused by snow melt this past spring.

transboundary water Hydro power Central Asia Security Strategy Irrigation Energy

Uzbekistan to Supply Extra Water to Kazakhstan for Irrigation

Kazinform has reported that following a meeting in Astana between Kazakh Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurzhan Nurjigitov, and Uzbek Minister of Water Management Shavkat Hamroev, Uzbekistan is to provide Kazakhstan with an additional 500 million cubic meters of water until the end of the irrigation season. Since April 1, Uzbekistan has supplied more than 4 billion cubic meters of water to Kazakhstan through the Syr Darya. It had been previously agreed that Uzbekistan would provide Kazakhstan with 3.7 billion cubic meters of water within six months but the Uzbek side fulfilled its obligation in just 4 months. The report states that the key goal was to fully satisfy the demand for irrigation water from farmers of Kazakhstan's southern regions and today, the Shardara Reservoir holds 1.5 billion cubic meters of water, almost 500 million more than last year. A total of 4 billion cubic meters of water entered the Shardara reservoir. Commenting on the success of the project, the official representative of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan, Moldir Abdualieva stated, “Due to the preliminary agreement with our neighbors on the working order of the Toktogul and Bahri-Tajik reservoirs, water regularly flows to the Kazakh part of the Dostlik interstate canal. Now, 90 cubic meters of water per second comes to the country through this channel. This is enough to fully supply the farmers of the Turkestan region with irrigation water,”

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Qosh Tepa Canal Threatens Water Balance in Central Asia

The construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal may threaten Central Asia's water balance and the region must address the issue. The warning, given by Nikolay Podguzov, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Development Bank which is involved in projects affecting the region's water balance, was reported by AKI press. According to experts, the Qosh Tepa Canal, currently under construction in Afghanistan, receives ten cubic kilometers of water per year from general drainage, and also, the Amu Darya river. Marat Imonkulov, Secretary of the Kyrgyz Security Council, said that a reduction of water in the Amu Darya will inevitably lead to an increase in water taken from the Syr Darya river for agriculture and other needs. Some analysts claim that under such a scenario, Central Asia will face a chronic water shortage. Although not one of its members, the EDB, reminded Afghanistan that the construction of the canal is being implemented by the state on its territory and Podguzov stressed, “The states mutually resolve issues related to relations through diplomatic channels. But we have to solve the problem together. I believe that the countries will agree." Analysts seek to resolve the situation by developing digital water accounting, water conservation, and proper treatment of the region's resources. The Qosh Tepa Canal project, conducted by the Taliban and currently underway in northern Afghanistan, is a significant initiative in managing the Amu Darya's water resource but during its first phase, has raised concerns among Central Asian countries. Heeding specialists' forecasts, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, said that the construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal will change the water regime and balance in Central Asia.

Agriculture Irrigation Water Management transboundary water International Cooperation

Kazakhstan’s Irrigation Water to be Swelled by 560 Million Cubic Meters from Kyrgyzstan

On June 18, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced that during this year’s irrigation season, the country will receive 180 million cubic meters of water from the Shu River and 380 million cubic meters of water from the Talas River from upstream Kyrgyzstan. As reported by Kazakh Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, the agreement between the two countries was reached during the 33rd meeting of the Shu-Talas Water Commission. Agreements were also settled on the extent of work required on the repair and reconstruction of water management facilities located on the transboundary Shu and Talas rivers. Welcoming the decisions, Minister Nurzhigitov commented: “International cooperation is one of our ministry’s key goals. In preparation for the irrigation season, a lot of work has been undertaken to provide farmers in the south of Kazakhstan with necessary volumes of water, and important negotiations have taken place with neighbouring countries. Today’s agreement with the Ministry of Water Resources of Kyrgyzstan to increase water supply along the Shu and Talas rivers, will be implemented from June 21.” The agreement follows that between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for the supply of 922 million cubic meters of water to the former through the Dostyk interstate canal.