Record Water Flow from China Fills Kazakhstan’s Kapshagai Reservoir to Capacity

The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has announced that a total of 10.2 billion cubic meters of water were received from China in the first half of 2025.

The increased inflow enabled the Kapshagai Reservoir, located in the Almaty Region, to reach 100 per cent capacity from the Ile River for the second consecutive year, a development seen as crucial for the region’s ecological and agricultural stability, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kazakh media.

As a result of the abundant water supply, 8.52 billion cubic meters were released into Lake Balkhash, leading to an average rise of 32 centimeters in the lake’s water level - from 341.55 to 341.87 meters, measured according to the Baltic elevation system.

Breakdown figures show that of the total volume, 4.6 billion cubic meters arrived via the Yertis River, while 5.6 billion cubic meters were transferred through the Ile River.

The ministry emphasized that bilateral cooperation with China extends beyond water transfers. In March 2025, Kazakhstan and China signed their first memorandum of understanding on water collaboration. The agreement focuses on sustainable water management, the introduction of modern technologies, the development of alternative water sources, and joint efforts in training and experience sharing between water management experts of both countries.