Central Asian states sign Water-Energy cooperation agreement as regional scarcity bites

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.

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