A working meeting to discuss the development of a master plan to preserve the Lake Balkhash ecosystem has been held in Astana. The project is implemented jointly with Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Geological Survey (BRGM).
Research focus
French experts presented preliminary results of their study. They assessed the condition of agriculture in the basin, hydrological conditions, the contribution of glacier runoff, interactions between surface water and groundwater, and water-resource allocation modeling. They also developed water-management scenarios for Lake Balkhash through 2040.
Next steps
At the meeting, the sides combined the results of the studies into a unified assessment system for the Lake Balkhash catchment area and identified priorities for further work.
«By the end of 2026, the integration of study results and the preparation of the final document are planned. The master plan will serve as a scientific basis for long-term decision-making on the preservation of the Lake Balkhash ecosystem,» said Kairatgali Khairulla, chairman of the Information and Analytical Center for Water Resources.
Nuclear power plant
Kazakhstan’s Agency for Atomic Energy confirmed that active construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant (NPP) is scheduled to begin in 2027.
The NPP will be named Balkhash and is to be built near the village of Ulken on the shores of Lake Balkhash in the Almaty region. The project is being carried out by a consortium led by Rosatom, with commissioning expected in 2035-2036.
