Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan Boost Water and Energy Cooperation

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are stepping up regional water and energy cooperation after the 13th meeting of their joint working group and the second session on sustainable water-energy coordination, held in Turkistan.

The meetings were attended by Kazakh Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Uzbek Water Management Minister Shavkat Khamraev, and Turkistan region Governor Nuralkhan Kosherov, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Officials discussed key issues in bilateral water and energy cooperation, including maintenance and cleaning of the interstate Dostyk Canal.

Both sides agreed to share expertise on water-saving technologies and to launch a project installing 10 automated gauging stations along the Syrdarya River (five in each country). Supported by Germany’s GIZ, the initiative aims to improve transparency and accuracy in transboundary water management.

Kazakh Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov highlighted last year’s historic intergovernmental agreement on joint management and rational use of shared water facilities, signed in the presence of both presidents. He also emphasized Kazakhstan’s plans to establish an International Water Organization under the UN and a Central Asian Framework Convention on Water Use to ensure long-term regional cooperation.

Kazakhstan is set to invest 2 trillion tenge ($3.911 billion) to modernize its water supply systems, signaling a strong commitment to sustainable water management in Central Asia.