By October 2025, Uzbekistan will supply 16 billion cubic meters (bcm) of water to Kazakhstan, an increase of 1 bcm year-on-year, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Kazakhstan’s minister of water resources and irrigation, and Shavkat Khamrayev, Uzbekistan’s minister of water resources, held the 12th meeting of the joint task force on water resource cooperation. They agreed that by Oct. 1, Uzbekistan will increase its annual water supply to Kazakhstan to 16 bcm.
During the previous irrigation season (October 2023-October 2024), Uzbekistan provided Kazakhstan with 15 bcm of water. The neighboring country has also committed to ensuring a steady water flow through the Dostyk Canal throughout the ongoing irrigation season.
The ministers further agreed to collaborate on repairing interstate canals, a move aimed at supporting farmers in Kazakhstan’s Turkestan region and Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh region.
«Another key topic of discussion was the automation of water metering on the Syr Darya River. Previously, 10 key locations, five in each country, were identified for the installation of metering systems. Today, we finalized the terms of reference for the project’s feasibility study. In February, a joint working group will meet with representatives from international organizations to discuss the next steps,» Nurzhigitov stated.
In April 2024, media reports revealed that Kazakhstan plans to double the number of flood-protection reservoirs it builds.
