Water Security - The Times Of Central Asia

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Melting Mountains, Drying Futures: Central Asia Confronts Water Emergency

Central Asian countries are mobilizing against an emerging water crisis as a United Nations report highlights the vulnerability of mountain water systems to climate change. Identifying ranges like the Tien Shan and the Pamirs, the UN World Water Development Report 2025 – Mountains and Glaciers: Water Towers – warns that rapid glacier melt and erratic snowfall are threatening vital freshwater supplies worldwide. According to the report, mountains provide up to 60% of the world’s annual freshwater flows, with over two billion people depending directly on water from mountain sources. This risk is particularly acute in Central Asia: a UN drought outlook noted that rising temperatures and shrinking snowpack in the high mountains of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are accelerating glacier retreat, posing a “long-term threat to the region’s water security.” Half of rural mountain communities in developing countries already face food insecurity, and receding glaciers could impact two-thirds of all irrigated agriculture globally – a dire scenario for Central Asia’s irrigation-dependent economies. Rivers like the Amu Darya and Syr Darya are fed by glacier runoff and support downstream agriculture, hydropower, and municipal needs in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. But climate-driven glacial retreat, inefficient irrigation, and aging infrastructure have already pushed the region toward a breaking point. [caption id="attachment_33952" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Lake Karakul in Tajikistan is expanding due to melting glaciers; image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Kazakhstan Steps Up Leading the regional response, Kazakhstan has launched sweeping reforms to modernize its water infrastructure and governance. The country has committed to building 42 new reservoirs, refurbishing 14,000 kilometers of irrigation canals, and investing heavily in digital water monitoring and conservation. Established in September 2023, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is coordinating the overhaul under an updated national Water Code. The government has also launched an integrated water portal, hydro.gov.kz, and pledged to digitize more than 3,500 kilometers of canals for precise flow tracking. In an address at the Astana International Forum, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev framed water as a “powerful driver of cooperation, sustainable development and regional stability,” urging closer regional coordination. Kazakhstan is also leading environmental restoration efforts. As the current chair of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), it is overseeing projects to rehabilitate the North Aral Sea, including raising the Kokaral Dam to restore water levels and fisheries. In 2024 alone, local irrigation reforms in Kyzylorda saved 200 million cubic meters of water, which was redirected toward the shrinking sea. [caption id="attachment_12017" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] The Kokaral Dam in Kazakhstan; image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] International Support and Financing Kazakhstan’s strategy has been backed by a plethora of international partners. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has financed over €255 million in water and wastewater projects in Kazakhstan, including a €96.4 million sovereign loan for a new treatment plant in Aktobe. Meanwhile, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and UNDP have launched a regional partnership to expand access to modern irrigation, digitize water flows, and establish training centers. “We must act very quickly and...

Qosh Tepa Canal Sparks Concerns in Central Asia

Afghanistan is rapidly advancing construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal, a large-scale water infrastructure project in the north of the country that could have far-reaching consequences for its Central Asian neighbors, according to Euronews. The 285-kilometer canal aims to divert an estimated 25-30% of the Amu Darya River’s flow to irrigate more than 500,000 hectares of farmland. The Amu Darya is one of Central Asia’s principal water sources, flowing through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, both downstream countries, depend heavily on the river for agriculture and hydroelectric power. Experts warn the canal could reduce Uzbekistan’s water intake by 15% and Turkmenistan’s by as much as 80%, with potential consequences including reduced crop yields, job losses, deepened poverty, and even cross-border tensions or migration. Although Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are not directly linked to the Amu Darya, the ripple effects could still reach them. Azamatkhan Amirtayev, leader of Kazakhstan’s Baytaq party, cautioned that Uzbekistan may compensate by drawing more water from the Syr Darya River, thereby reducing Kazakhstan’s water supply by up to 40%. Environmental concerns are also mounting. The Aral Sea, already severely degraded by decades of mismanagement, may face further deterioration. “This project could be the last nail in the coffin for the Aral Sea,” said regional water expert Bulat Yessekin. He urged Central Asian countries to engage Afghanistan through offers of shared energy and food in exchange for coordinated water management. The canal’s implications were a key topic at the recent Water Security and Transboundary Water Use conference, where participants warned that it threatens to reverse years of regional cooperation aimed at restoring the Aral Sea. While Central Asian countries participate in international water-sharing frameworks, Afghanistan does not. Its Taliban-led government remains unrecognized internationally and is not bound by existing treaties. However, diplomatic ties are evolving. Uzbekistan has opened channels of cooperation with Kabul, and both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have removed the Taliban from their lists of banned organizations. Afghanistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Naeem Wardak expressed openness to dialogue. “The Qosh Tepa canal will not be to the detriment of anyone,” he stated. Kazakhstan, which chairs the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in 2025, has proposed using the platform to initiate talks. The country’s Ministry of Water Resources emphasized that any solution must involve regional cooperation and the adoption of water-saving technologies to reduce wastage.

Afghanistan’s Qosh-Tepa Canal Could Impact Kazakhstan’s Water Security

The construction of the Qosh-Tepa Canal in Afghanistan and its potential implications for Central Asia’s water security were central topics at the recent international conference, Water Security and Transboundary Water Use: Challenges and Solutions, held in Astana. Delegates from Turkey, Israel, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan convened to address the canal’s possible repercussions and broader issues of regional water distribution. Potential Threats to the Syr Darya Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Aslan Abdraimov, warned that the Qosh-Tepa Canal could significantly reduce the flow of the Syr Darya River, with direct consequences for the already depleted Aral Sea. While Kazakhstan does not share a border with Afghanistan, the canal's impact is expected to ripple across the region. “No sharp fluctuations in water resources are expected in the near term, but in the long term, a reduction in the Syr Darya’s flow is inevitable,” Abdraimov stated. He emphasized that this would further strain the fragile water balance in the Aral Sea basin. The Aral Sea’s degradation has been ongoing for decades, largely due to the diversion of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for agricultural use, primarily for irrigating cotton and wheat fields. These diversions have contributed heavily to the sea’s dramatic shrinkage. Azamatkhan Amirtayev, chairman of Kazakhstan’s Baytak Party, expressed concern that the Qosh-Tepa Canal could divert 25-30% of the Amu Darya’s flow. “This means that Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will receive less water. Consequently, Uzbekistan may draw more from the Syr Darya, leading to reduced water availability for Kazakhstan, potentially by 30-40%,” Amirtayev said. He urged for regional cooperation and scientifically informed policymaking to mitigate water losses. The Qosh-Tepa Canal and Its Regional Consequences The Qosh-Tepa Canal, under construction in northern Afghanistan, is designed to stretch 285 kilometers and span approximately 100 meters in width. Once operational, it is expected to irrigate over 500,000 hectares of farmland by diverting up to 10 cubic kilometers of water annually from the Amu Darya, roughly a quarter of the river’s average flow. Such a significant withdrawal could disrupt the hydrological balance across Central Asia. Reduced flows in the Syr Darya may accelerate the desiccation of the Aral Sea and exacerbate ecological degradation in Kazakhstan’s downstream regions. Experts at the conference underscored the urgency of strengthening regional water diplomacy and establishing new cooperative frameworks to ensure sustainable water usage and prevent environmental disasters. Hope for Dialogue Afghan representatives have previously signaled a willingness to engage in dialogue on water resource management. Observers suggest that joint initiatives in water management could play a key role in easing regional tensions and improving environmental outcomes. As the region faces mounting water stress due to climate change, population growth, and infrastructure development, coordinated action among Central Asian states and Afghanistan is increasingly seen as essential for long-term water security.

ADB to Help Uzbekistan Introduce Smart Water Management

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $125 million loan to support Uzbekistan’s government in modernizing water management, improving water security, and expanding access to safe and reliable water. Advancing Smart Water Management ADB’s Climate-Smart Water Management Improvement Project will assist Joint Stock Company Uzsuvtaminot, the country’s national water utility, and its regional branches in enhancing water infrastructure and efficiency. Key initiatives include: Completing the nationwide installation of bulk flow metering and telemetry systems at major water sources. Conducting a comprehensive asset inventory and geographic mapping of all water supply and wastewater infrastructure, covering approximately 4 million customer connections. Implementing climate-smart, IT-based utility management systems, including training programs for national water utility staff. Upgrading customer service centers with new financial management software, ensuring transparent financial statements aligned with international standards. Addressing Water Security Challenges ADB Country Director for Uzbekistan Kanokpan Lao-Araya emphasized the urgency of improving water management in the face of climate change and inefficient usage. “Uzbekistan’s water resources are under acute threat from climate change and inefficient usage. 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,” she stated. ADB’s Ongoing Support for Uzbekistan Since Uzbekistan joined ADB in 1995, the bank has committed $14.3 billion in public sector loans, grants, and technical assistance to support the country’s development.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Collaborate on Syr Darya River Automation to Improve Water Management

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are moving forward with plans to install ten automated measuring stations along the Syr Darya River, a project aimed at improving water resource management. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia in September 2024, this initiative was first discussed during meetings between Uzbek Minister of Water Resources Shavkat Khamroyev and Kazakh Minister of Water Resources Nurzhan Nurzhigitov. The discussions focused on automating and digitizing water accounting in the river basin. On January 7, the two countries announced that they had agreed to develop technical specifications for the project. Five stations will be installed in each country, with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) assisting in the development of draft technical specifications. Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing with international financial institutions to secure funding for the project. “This is just the beginning,” stated Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurlan Aldamjarov. “Only the first ten sections have been identified so far, but we aim to automate all major hydro posts and ensure complete transparency in water accounting. We are also actively addressing this issue in talks with our Kyrgyz and Tajik counterparts.” The automation of water management systems is a critical step for both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as the Syr Darya River plays a vital role in supporting agriculture and ensuring water security in the region.

Kazakhstan Receives Abundant Water in 2024

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has reported record water accumulation in the country’s reservoirs and lakes in 2024. This year, Kazakhstan’s reservoirs collected over 75 billion cubic meters of water, including more than 12 billion cubic meters of floodwater from unprecedented spring floods in the western and northern regions. These floods were triggered by rapid snowmelt, leading to significant increases in water availability. According to the Ministry, efficient floodwater distribution helped replenish reservoirs and direct excess water to rivers and lakes that have faced drying trends in recent years. Notable allocations include: Lake Balkhash: Received 15.4 billion cubic meters of water in 2024, a 4-billion-cubic-meter increase from 2023. Of this, 3.3 billion cubic meters came from floodwater. Located 175 miles northwest of Almaty, Balkhash is the largest lake in Kazakhstan and the fifteenth-largest in the world. Caspian Sea: Gained 17 billion cubic meters of water, addressing concerns over its declining water level. The Times of Central Asia previously reported concerns that the Caspian could lose up to 18 meters of water by the end of the century. Kapchagay Reservoir: For the first time in a decade, this reservoir in the Almaty region filled to 100% of its capacity, collecting over 18 billion cubic meters of water. The reservoir regulates the flow of the Ili River, which originates in China and flows into Lake Balkhash. North Aral Sea: Received approximately 2.5 billion cubic meters of water, 400 million cubic meters more than in 2023. This portion of the former Aral Sea is fed by the Syr Darya River and separated from the South Aral Sea in the late 1980s due to water diversion for agriculture. Kamysh-Samar Lakes: Located in the West Kazakhstan region, these lakes were replenished with 80 million cubic meters of floodwater. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov emphasized the Ministry’s efforts to preserve and restore large and small water bodies across Kazakhstan. During the 2024 irrigation season, approximately 11 billion cubic meters of water were supplied to the country’s farms to support agricultural activities. The record water accumulation and successful flood management efforts underscore Kazakhstan’s commitment to sustainable water resource management.