Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have signed an agreement on joint water and energy resource management through to 2026.
The document was formalised during a trilateral meeting held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, involving representatives of the energy and water management authorities of the three countries.
The core element of the agreement establishes mutual obligations: Kyrgyzstan will ensure regulated water releases from the Toktogul Reservoir, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will supply electricity to the Kyrgyz Republic in return.
This mechanism is expected to help maintain necessary water levels in the reservoir and provide irrigation water to southern regions of Kazakhstan during the upcoming vegetation season.
The countries also agreed on the terms of electricity transit from the Russian Federation to Kyrgyzstan via Kazakhstan’s power grid.
These measures are aimed at mitigating resource shortages in the forthcoming autumn-winter period and creating predictable conditions for water accumulation ahead of the next agricultural cycle.
The Kazakh delegation was led by Minister of Energy Erlan Akkenzhenov, who emphasised that the signed documents contain specific volumes, timelines and technical parameters.
He stated that effective work in the water-energy sector requires precision and strict adherence to schedules, adding that Kazakhstan is meeting its commitments and expects the same from its partners.
According to the Minister, only through transparency and cooperation can the stability of regional power systems and reliable water supply be ensured.
Alongside the trilateral discussions, bilateral negotiations also took place.
A protocol was signed between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, outlining the delivery of approximately 900 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to southern Kazakhstan between March and December 2026.
This volume is intended to offset projected shortages in the country’s southern energy zone due to planned maintenance works at key power plants.
Such agreements are particularly significant against the backdrop of growing water scarcity in Central Asia.
According to the World Bank, over 37 million people in the region already live in areas affected by water stress.
This number could rise to 75 million by 2050, driven by population growth and the accelerating effects of climate change.
Kazakhstan is especially vulnerable, with only 3% of its territory covered by water and the majority of its water resources originating from transboundary rivers.
Uzbekistan, the most populous country in the region, is also facing acute irrigation water shortages that directly impact food security.
In Kyrgyzstan, where many of the region’s key rivers originate, nearly one million people lack access to safe drinking water, and farmers frequently report insufficient irrigation.
In Tajikistan, despite relatively abundant water resources, problems persist due to outdated infrastructure and limited access to clean water, particularly in rural areas.
Turkmenistan, 90% of which is desert, is also experiencing increasing water scarcity year on year.
Recognising the growing urgency of water-related issues
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the urgency of water related issues in his annual State of the Nation Address, delivered on 8 September.
While the speech covered a wide range of social and economic reforms, Tokayev specifically highlighted water management as a strategic priority.
He instructed the government to develop a unified digital platform for water resources, based on artificial intelligence, to consolidate data on surface and underground water sources.
The platform is expected to enable comprehensive hydrological monitoring and support the creation of a National Water Balance for long-term planning.
Tokayev noted that water losses in some irrigation canals reach 50–60% due to obsolete infrastructure and insufficient measurement technologies.
He also stressed the importance of training professionals in the field of water diplomacy and underlined that water is a critical strategic resource — without it, there can be no life, development or national security.
Against this backdrop, the agreements reached between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan represent an important step towards systemic water-energy cooperation in Central Asia.
In an environment shaped by climate pressures, ageing infrastructure and intensifying competition over shared resources, the region must strengthen mechanisms for trust, transparency and coordinated planning.
The president of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, cast his vote on Sunday as the country held snap parliamentary elections....
Pope Leo travels to Lebanon on Sunday to deliver an appeal for peace in a country repeatedly struck by Israeli air raids, completing the second and fi...
Four people have been killed and 14 injured after shots were fired at a child’s birthday party in Stockton, California. Police say the attack may ha...
Pompeii's ancient Roman frescoes, shattered and buried for centuries, could get a second life thanks to a pioneering robotic system designed to suppor...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said on Saturday that data showed 10 children had died because of COVID-19 vaccination...
Kazakhstan has called on Ukraine to stop striking the Black Sea terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) after a major drone attack forced a halt to exports and caused serious damage to loading equipment.
A new platform uniting Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) from the Member Countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was launched in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday, with MP Azer Allahveranov elected as its chairman.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made his first official visit to Astana, marking a significant event in bilateral relations.
At the Kazakhstan - Estonia business forum, companies from both countries signed 11 commercial agreements totalling more than $517 million.
U.S. investigators have recovered the black box recorders from the wreckage of a UPS cargo plane that crashed in flames on takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky. At least twelve people died. The crash sent a wall of fire into an industrial corridor and forced the shutdown of the airport.
The Spanish agricultural sector has been placed on high alert following the confirmation that African Swine Fever (ASF) has resurfaced in the country for the first time in over thirty years.
The global recall of Airbus A320 aircraft has triggered widespread disruption across several major airlines, forcing flight cancellations in the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on Friday that the group retains the right to respond to Israel’s killing of its top military commander, leaving open the possibility of a new conflict with the country.
Kazakhstan has called on Ukraine to stop striking the Black Sea terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) after a major drone attack forced a halt to exports and caused serious damage to loading equipment.
The president of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, cast his vote on Sunday as the country held snap parliamentary elections.
U.S. investigators have recovered the black box recorders from the wreckage of a UPS cargo plane that crashed in flames on takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky. At least twelve people died. The crash sent a wall of fire into an industrial corridor and forced the shutdown of the airport.
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on Friday that the group retains the right to respond to Israel’s killing of its top military commander, leaving open the possibility of a new conflict with the country.
Asaad al-Shaibani calls Israel's attack on Beit Jinn 'treacherous assault’ on civilians that threatens regional peace and security.
At least 13 people — including women and children — were killed, and many others wounded early Friday in an Israeli attack on the town of Beit Jinn and the road to Mazraat Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside, according to Syrian media and local sources.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment