Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan agree on summer water use schedule

Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan have signed a protocol agreeing on the 2025 summer water use schedule for the Bahri Tojik reservoir, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan announced.

The agreement outlines the operational plan for the reservoir from June through August and is aimed at ensuring efficient and equitable water distribution among the three countries. At the peak of the growing season, Kazakhstan is expected to receive 491 million cubic meters of water.

The protocol was signed during a ministerial meeting in Dushanbe, held on the sidelines of an international conference on glacier protection.

“A key priority for us is strengthening cooperation between our countries. Kazakhstan remains committed to implementing joint water resource management projects and promoting the principles of international water law. Water is not only a natural resource, but also a tool for sustainable development and regional stability. Only through cooperation we can effectively address climate challenges,” said Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurzhan Nurzhigitov.

The shared water is primarily intended for irrigation and maintaining groundwater levels during the critical summer months.

Bahri Tojik, one of Tajikistan’s largest reservoirs, is located mainly in the Sughd region, with a portion extending into Uzbekistan’s Fergana region. Built in 1950 with the Kairakkum dam and hydroelectric station, the reservoir—formerly known as Kairakkum—was later renamed Bahri Tojik (“Tajik Sea”). It plays a key role in regulating the Syrdarya River and supporting agriculture across the region.

Copied