Kazakhstan Warns of Water Shortages
Kazakhstan expects shortages in the supply of irrigation water this year in four regions. The regions most affected are Kyzylorda, Turkestan, Zhambyl, and parts of the Almaty region.
According to Vlast, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurshan Nurshigitov, stated that reduced inflows from the upper reaches of major rivers and lower reservoir levels will strain the supply.
Concerns about increasing water scarcity in Central Asia have been growing for years. In addition to climatic factors, infrastructural and regional developments are also intensifying the pressure on water resources. Kyrgyzstan is calling on neighboring countries to provide additional funds for the expansion of water and storage infrastructure. At the same time, the Qosh-Tepa irrigation canal currently under construction in Afghanistan is causing new uncertainty, as it could divert significant amounts of water from the Amu Darya in the future.
Regions particularly affected
According to Nurshigitov, Kyzylorda, Turkestan, Zhambyl, and parts of the Almaty region should prepare for restrictions. These areas are heavily dependent on the Syr Darya, Shu, and Talas river basins.
At a government meeting, the minister explained that reservoir levels in neighboring countries along the Syr Darya basin are currently 1.6 billion cubic meters lower than during the same period last year.
“Since these reservoirs will retain water during the summer period, the expected inflow to Kazakhstan is likely to reach only 70 percent of the long-term average,” Nurshigitov said. This corresponds to low-water conditions and poses significant risks for the middle and lower sections of the basin.
Shortages are also looming near the Kurty Reservoir in the Almaty region. The reservoir currently holds 64 million cubic meters of water, which is 38 million cubic meters less than a year ago.
Low reservoir levels in Kyrgyzstan
Similar trends are evident in the Shu and Talas basins. The minister specifically pointed to the Kirov and Orto-Tokoi reservoirs in Kyrgyzstan.
The Kirov Reservoir is currently 78 percent full, but contains 89 million cubic meters less water than last year. The Orto-Tokoi Reservoir is at 83 percent, also 79 million cubic meters below the previous year’s level. As a result, the water withdrawal limit for the basin has been reduced from 1.2 billion to 900 million cubic meters through 2026.
Due to the current hydrological situation, Kazakhstan has set irrigation limits at 3.2 billion cubic meters for the Kyzylorda region and 3.8 billion cubic meters for the Turkestan region.
Despite the increasing pressure, Nurshigitov described the overall situation regarding water accumulation in domestic reservoirs as stable. However, the ministry anticipates that the 2026 growing season will continue to be affected by the consequences of the 2025 drought.
Kazakhstan is one of the world’s most water-scarce countries. Only 2.8 percent of its territory is covered by water, while about two-thirds consists of arid and semi-arid areas. A large portion of its water resources comes from abroad. As a result, the country remains heavily dependent on transboundary rivers.
