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Compensation Mechanisms

Kyrgyzstan Calls for Compensation Mechanisms to Maintain Regional Water Infrastructure

Kyrgyzstan is calling for compensation mechanisms with neighboring countries to help finance the maintenance of water infrastructure and glacier preservation. Officials warn that shrinking glaciers and declining precipitation already pose serious risks for Central Asia. The issue was raised by Erlist Akunbekov, Kyrgyzstan’s deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and minister of water resources, agriculture, and processing industry, during the opening of the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development,” 2018-2028, in Dushanbe on May 26. Akunbekov described the melting of glaciers as a regional challenge, not solely a national problem. “Without glaciers, there will be no water in the rivers, and without water in the rivers, there will be no life in the valleys,” he said. He presented Kyrgyzstan as a critical upstream supplier, saying it is the only country in Central Asia whose water resources are formed entirely within its own territory. On that basis, he called for mutually beneficial and equitable compensation mechanisms in the water and energy sectors. Kyrgyzstan uses only around 30% of its available water resources, while the majority is consumed downstream by neighboring countries, Akunbekov said. At the same time, the country bears substantial costs for maintaining reservoirs, hydraulic infrastructure, and glacier ecosystems that benefit the entire region. “However, we must frankly admit that today our country is not receiving adequate compensation for these efforts,” Akunbekov said. For decades, Kyrgyzstan has also incurred indirect economic losses because land has been used for reservoirs and infrastructure serving regional water needs, he said. “Maintaining hydraulic facilities and preserving glaciers in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan requires enormous expenditures,” he said. Akunbekov added that Kyrgyzstan allocated approximately $80 million to the water sector last year and around $259 million over the past five years. Despite those investments, the resources of a single country are insufficient to fully modernize the aging water infrastructure inherited from the Soviet era. “We need additional consolidated financing to build an effective and modern water management system for all countries in the region,” Akunbekov said, adding that the time has come to introduce compensation mechanisms that would allow upstream countries to maintain water infrastructure for the benefit of all Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan remains one of the principal sources of irrigation water for downstream Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Akunbekov also drew attention to environmental risks facing Lake Issyk-Kul, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most important natural landmarks and a a biosphere territory of regional significance. He noted that over the past decade, the number of rivers flowing into the lake has declined from 100 to 30. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan has also proposed that international donors and development partners jointly develop and implement a comprehensive program to preserve Lake Issyk-Kul and address climate-related risks affecting the wider region.

Water

Turkmenistan Has World’s Highest Freshwater Withdrawal Per Capita

Turkmenistan has recorded the world’s highest annual freshwater withdrawal per capita, a ranking that points to the heavy strain placed on water resources by irrigated agriculture, particularly cotton production, according to international data based on statistics from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank. The country’s position at the top of the ranking is driven not by household consumption, but by the massive use of water in agriculture, particularly in the cotton sector. The ranking is therefore less a measure of individual water use than an indicator of structural dependence on irrigation in an extremely arid country. According to the data, more than 3,631 cubic meters of freshwater are withdrawn annually for every resident of Turkmenistan. The calculations include not only domestic water usage, but also volumes consumed by agriculture, industry, and municipal infrastructure. The figure reflects Turkmenistan’s dependence on large-scale irrigation systems established during the Soviet period to support cotton production. Vast amounts of water are diverted from the Amu Darya River to agricultural land in one of the world’s driest climates. Researchers note that these irrigation projects were among the major causes of the environmental catastrophe that devastated the Aral Sea. Agriculture remains the world’s largest consumer of freshwater. According to international estimates, the agricultural sector accounts for roughly 70% of global freshwater use. As a result, the highest positions in the ranking are largely occupied by countries with arid climates and extensive irrigated farming systems. The top 15 countries also include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran. At the opposite end of the ranking are countries with the world’s lowest levels of freshwater withdrawal per capita. These include the Democratic Republic of Congo, with just seven cubic meters per person annually, as well as Equatorial Guinea and the Maldives, with 11 cubic meters each. Climate change is already increasing pressure on water resources across many regions of the world. Droughts, rising temperatures, and growing agricultural demand are making efficient water management an increasingly urgent issue, including for the countries of Central Asia. For Central Asia, the figures underline a familiar problem: water use remains shaped by Soviet-era irrigation systems, while climate change is making the region’s rivers, reservoirs, and agricultural systems more vulnerable.

Water Consumption

Central Asian Countries Rank Among World’s Highest Water Consumers

Several Central Asian countries rank among the world’s highest consumers of water per person, according to data compiled by the Worldometer portal. The figures, based on statistics from UN agencies including UNESCO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), place Turkmenistan first globally, with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan also in the top ten. The figures highlight a long-standing regional challenge: heavy dependence on water-intensive agriculture combined with aging irrigation systems that lose substantial amounts of water before it reaches fields. Turkmenistan leads the global ranking with daily water consumption of 15,445 liters per person. Uzbekistan ranks fourth worldwide at 4,778 liters per capita per day, followed by Tajikistan with 4,460 liters and Kyrgyzstan with 4,153 liters. Kazakhstan recorded the lowest level among Central Asian states, at 3,397 liters per person daily, though that still places it among relatively high-consuming countries internationally. In terms of total annual water use, Uzbekistan consumes the largest volume in the region at 54.56 billion cubic meters a year. It is followed by Turkmenistan with 27.9 billion cubic meters, Kazakhstan with 22.77 billion, Tajikistan with 11.49 billion, and Kyrgyzstan with around 8 billion cubic meters. Experts say agriculture explains much of the region’s high consumption. Globally, farming accounts for about 70% of freshwater use, compared with 20% for industry and 10% for households. In Central Asia, agriculture represents more than 80% of water consumption, while up to 40% of water is estimated to be lost through deteriorating irrigation infrastructure. The problem has become increasingly significant as freshwater demand rises worldwide. According to UN estimates, freshwater withdrawals have tripled over the past 50 years, while global demand continues to grow by around 64 billion cubic meters annually because of population growth, changing consumption patterns, energy production, and biofuel development. Several Central Asian governments have begun introducing reforms aimed at reducing water losses. In Uzbekistan, authorities joined the World Bank’s Water Forward initiative and announced plans to expand water-saving technologies across 4.1 million hectares of irrigated farmland while reducing irrigation losses by 25%. Kazakhstan has also faced recurring shortages. Seasonal water restrictions are regularly introduced in southern regions, and this year the government approved consumption limits because of expected shortages during the agricultural season. The issue is closely linked to energy production in upstream countries. Studies by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicate that more than 80% of electricity generation in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan comes from hydropower, creating a close link between irrigation needs and energy supply. Limited coordination over water releases and electricity generation has contributed to summer shortages in some years. The figures show the scale of the challenge for Central Asian governments seeking to reduce water losses and manage shared rivers more effectively.

Water

Water in Central Asia: Between Reality and Alarmism

The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 will take place in Astana on April 22-24. The event is intended to elevate Central Asia’s water and environmental agenda to the level of systemic solutions. Alongside preparations for the summit, however, an increasingly alarmist narrative is gaining traction among some experts. In this framing, water resources in Central Asia are presented as being in crisis, with predictions of shortages, threats to food security, and even potential conflict. Phrases such as “there is not enough water,” “the harvest is at risk,” and “the region is on the brink” are used with growing frequency. Such assessments are typically based on generalized and dramatized claims that fail to differentiate between countries or specific river basins. This creates the impression of a single, simultaneous crisis, whereas in reality the situation is far more complex. Yes, there is a problem, but it is not sudden or one-dimensional. Water scarcity in Central Asia is real. However, it must be interpreted accurately and objectively. According to expert estimates, up to 40% of water in the region is lost through deteriorating irrigation infrastructure, while more than 80% of water consumption is accounted for by agriculture. Current practice supports these figures. In southern Kazakhstan, seasonal water supply restrictions are regularly imposed. This year, for example, the government approved consumption limits for southern regions due to an expected shortage during the growing season. Uzbekistan has said, in joining the World Bank’s Water Forward initiative, that it aims to introduce water-saving technologies across its 4.1 million hectares of irrigated land and reduce irrigation losses by 25%. Equally important are developments in upstream countries, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. According to a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the region exhibits a structural interdependence between water and energy. More than 80% of electricity in these countries is generated by hydropower, meaning water resources are used simultaneously for energy production and irrigation. This creates systemic interdependencies. At the same time, coordination of water releases and electricity generation remains suboptimal, and the absence of long-term regulatory mechanisms has already led to water shortages during certain summer periods. This is a key point: the issue is not so much an absolute lack of water, but the complexity of coordination between upstream and downstream countries, as well as between sectors within individual states. In other words, water shortages in Central Asia are often driven less by natural conditions than by how water is distributed and managed. Particular attention in alarmist narratives is given to Afghanistan and the Kushtepa Canal. Estimates commonly suggest that the Qosh Tepa Canal could eventually divert around 6-10 km³ of water per year from the Amu Darya, although projections vary and depend on how fully the canal is completed and operated. While the canal is not yet fully operational, regional officials already treat it as a serious medium-term risk, with the precise scale of future withdrawals still under discussion. Countries in the region, especially Uzbekistan, have been pursuing dialogue with Afghanistan over the canal and...

Water

Kazakhstan Launches Water Spring Clean-Up Campaign

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched an environmental campaign titled Möldir Bülak (“Transparent, Clean Spring”) aimed at restoring and protecting water springs across the country. The initiative began with the clean-up of 28 springs in southern regions: Shymkent, Almaty, Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, Turkestan and Zhetisu. Around 3,800 people, including volunteers and students, took part in the effort. Participants cleared debris, restored natural spring outlets, improved surrounding areas and planted tree saplings. At the ministry’s initiative, the first volunteer movement in the water sector, Bolashaktyn Kainary, has been established in the Zhambyl region. It brings together students from the Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation in Taraz. Similar volunteer groups are expected to be formed in other regions. According to officials, the movement will not be limited to environmental campaigns. It is also intended to support long-term efforts to promote water conservation and strengthen environmental awareness. At the same time, the Kaz hydrogeology National Hydrogeological Service is conducting a nationwide inventory of springs. So far, specialists have identified 711 potential springs, while a broader map of 2,772 sites has been compiled using archival materials. Springs are viewed as an additional source of water supply amid growing water shortages. By 2027, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation plans to carry out geological exploration to identify new groundwater sources in five regions: Akmola, West Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Zhetisu and Ulytau. The initiative aims to expand groundwater reserves and provide additional water supplies for settlements, agriculture and economic sectors. Overall, 4,803 groundwater deposits have been explored in Kazakhstan for drinking water supply, irrigation and industrial use. Usable groundwater reserves are estimated at 43.2 million cubic meters per day, while only about 1.5 million cubic meters per day, roughly 3% of the total, is currently being utilised. Of the proven reserves, 21.2 million cubic meters per day could be used for drinking water, 2.4 million cubic meters per day for industrial and technical needs, and 19.6 million cubic meters per day for irrigation. “In the context of increasing water shortages and climate change, developing groundwater potential is considered a key priority for ensuring sustainable water use. Despite the significant potential of groundwater resources, a large portion remains insufficiently studied,” said Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Talgat Momyshev.

Water Conservation

Kazakhstan’s Water Ministry Approves Roadmap to Eliminate the “Black Market” for Water

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, in coordination with the General Prosecutor's Office, has unveiled a comprehensive action plan to combat illegal water abstraction, commonly referred to as the “black market” for water. The roadmap was presented at an interdepartmental meeting earlier this week. The plan outlines systematic measures, including a nationwide audit of water resources, the mapping of regions vulnerable to illegal abstraction, and a review of state funding allocated for water infrastructure development. It also calls for the adoption of water-saving technologies and the implementation of anti-corruption mechanisms. Interdepartmental working groups will be established at both national and regional levels, incorporating law enforcement representatives with investigative authority. A central component of the strategy is the digital transformation of irrigation water distribution. This will include the deployment of satellite and digital monitoring systems, centralized accounting tools, and mandatory interdepartmental data-sharing. Special emphasis will be placed on ensuring compliance with water use quotas and promoting crop diversification among farmers. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov emphasized that eradicating the shadow water trade demands coordinated efforts from government institutions and law enforcement, with the prosecutor’s office playing a leading role. “No lawbreaker should escape responsibility,” he said. According to ministry estimates, the black market accounts for 5-10% of Kazakhstan’s agricultural water consumption. The country’s total annual water usage is approximately 25 billion cubic meters, with the agricultural sector consuming about 60%, roughly 15 billion cubic meters. In a recent address to the nation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for the complete elimination of illegal water trafficking. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s water legislation already includes provisions for the gradual tightening of regulations on legal water users. Authorities have stated that immediate action will be taken to dismantle the illicit segment of the market.