Nazarbayev suggests Mangistau region could explore drip irrigation technologies
ALMATY. April 5 (Interfax) - President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev proposes introduction of drip irrigation technologies in the Mangistau region.
"Water extraction here is very complicated. Water conservation is important ... Israel is supplying us with cherries. Why? They have drip irrigation and we don't. Drip irrigation technologies boast 40-50% water efficiency," the head of state said at a meeting with the local community.
According to expert forecasts, by 2020 the water deficit in the region will reach 70,000 cubic meters per day. One of the measures to respond to the water deficit currently employed in the region is to increase production of desalinated water.
Regional Governor Eraly Tugzhanov said that by June 1, the capacity of the Caspian desalination plant will be increased to 30,000 cubic meters per day, while designing of the second stage of plant expansion is underway to increase the plant's capacity further to 40,000 cubic meters per day.
"The regional authorities are in talks with investors from Israel and France on construction of desalination plants in Kenderli and Kuryk. The oil companies working in the region are also conducting design works and negotiations with investors to build their own desalination plant," Tugzhanov said.
These projects will increase the supply of drinking water to the population of Zhanaozen and also release water volumes taken from the Astrakhan-Mangyshlak water pipeline, when replaced with desalinated sea water for oil companies' own needs. These new facilities are projected to increase the volume of water supply by 125,000 cubic meters per day.
"We associate the development of the agro-industrial complex in the region via construction of greenhouses and agricultural zones with an increase in water production," Tugzhanov said.