Kazakhstan Considers Revising Water Agreement with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan Plans to Change Agreement on Syr Darya Resources with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan intends to modify the existing agreement with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan regarding the utilization of resources from the Syr Darya basin by the end of 2023. This decision is outlined in the water resources management concept for the years 2023-2029.
The current water agreement has been in effect since 1998 and primarily focuses on regulating the use of Syr Darya resources for irrigation and energy purposes. Under the existing agreement, any surplus electricity generated by hydroelectric power stations is shared with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In return, Kyrgyzstan receives energy resources, financial assistance, and commercial services from its neighboring countries.
The reason behind Kazakhstan’s decision to modify the document may be the increasing issue of water scarcity in the region. Climate scientists predict that water resource pressure will rise by 2.8 times in certain countries by 2040. Additionally, the Syr Darya river is predicted to shrink by 15 percent by the year 2050.
As of now, the detailed contents of the revised agreement are still not publicly available. It remains to be seen how this modification will address the growing concerns surrounding water resources in the region.
