transboundary water - The Times Of Central Asia

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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 Irrigation Strategy Security Central Asia Energy Hydro power

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,”

Investments Security Afghanistan Economy transboundary water Water Disputes

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.

Water Management Agriculture Irrigation International Cooperation transboundary water

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.

Uzbekistan Legislation Social Water Shortages transboundary water Central Asia Turkmenistan Kyrgyzstan Economy Tajikistan Kazakhstan

Central Asian Countries Set 2024 Quotas for Amu Darya, Syr Darya River Water Usage

Last week in Kazakhstan, delegates came together for the 87th meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) of Central Asia, where they discussed the potential and limitations of regional water reservoirs ahead of the 2023-2024 agricultural growing season. According to the ICWC, some of the more pressing questions focused on confirming limits of water usage for the 2024 growing season for the Syr Darya and Amu Darya river basins and the prognosis for water release from the reservoirs in those basins. There's still no information on how much water will be sent to the Aral Sea basin. In accordance with the quota, the draw on water from the Amu Darya watershed will be 56 billion cubic meters for the year, with about 40 billion cubic meters to be used in the April-to-October growing season. As stated in the ICWC agreement, Uzbekistan will receive 16 billion cubic meters, Turkmenistan 15.5 billion cubic meters, and Tajikistan will get 6.9 billion cubic meters. The Syr Darya's water use quota for this year's growing season is around 11.9 billion cubic meters, with 8.8 billion cubic meters going to Uzbekistan, 1.9 billion cubic meters for Tajikistan, 920 million cubic meters for Kazakhstan, and 270 million cubic meters for Kyrgyzstan. According to the ICWC, the totals for irrigated lands by Central Asian country are 4.3 million hectares in Uzbekistan, 2.5 million hectares in Kazakhstan, 1.9 million hectares in Turkmenistan, 1 million hectares in Kyrgyzstan, and 680,000 in Tajikistan.

Kyrgyzstan business and economy Allied relations transboundary water Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Enhance Allied Relations

On April 19 Astana hosted the sixth meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Chaired by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, discussions focused on the development of bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment, and agriculture, in addition to joint projects regarding transport, water use and energy resources. The two leaders then signed an Agreement on Deepening and Expanding Allied Relations, aimed at providing a new impetus to the development of Kazakh-Kyrgyz relations. During the conference, Kyrgyz President Japarov stated, “Kazakhstan is our close neighbour, a fraternal country and one of our main trading partners. Kazakhstan is a priority in our foreign policy. There are no political or regional differences between our countries.” In support, President Tokayev expressed his wish for there to be no unresolved issues between the two neighbouring countries and drew particular attention to the need to strengthen trade and economic ties. Kazakhstan is currently one of Kyrgyzstan’s key partners in trade and investment. Last year, mutual trade turnover reached $1.5 billion and during their talks, the leaders confirmed their intention to increase that figure to $2 billion. The parties also signed an Agreement on Mutual Protection of Investments. Referencing measures to expand the volume of goods transported across the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border and improvements in customs clearance, Tokayev stated, “We have started modernizing the border checkpoints at Karasu, Besagash, Aukhatty, Sartob, Aisha Bibi, Sypatay Batyr, and Kegen. Each will be equipped with digital technologies, with work expected to be completed by 2028.” President Japarov, in turn, announced that an agreement had been reached to resume the operation of the Kichi-Kapka and Kamyshanovka checkpoints to help increase bilateral trade and relieve congestion. Turning to the importance of interaction in the water and energy sector, the Kazakh president said, “In recent years, the urgency of efficient and equitable use of transboundary water resources has increased. We shall continue our coordinated work and have agreed to soon give approval to a schedule for interstate water management structures and implement it in a timely manner. Kazakhstan is ready to fulfil all obligations and jointly implement important projects.”