Kazakhstan to build 20 reservoirs in 2024-2026 to reduce water supply dependency

ASTANA. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan intends to build 20 new reservoirs, each with a 2.4 cu. km. capacity, across nine regions from 2024 to 2026. This initiative is a crucial component of the 2024-2030 comprehensive water management plan, aimed at dealing with water security and scarcity concerns.

The plan includes measures such as building and reconstructing reservoirs, hydraulic structures, irrigation systems, and water pipelines. "The goal is to increase irrigated land by 250,000 hectares, protect 70 rural settlements with 137,000 people from flooding, and reduce Kazakhstan's reliance on neighboring countries for water by 25%," the Water Council of Kazakhstan said at a meeting on Monday.

Additionally, 15 existing reservoirs in nine regions, with a volume of 1.9 cu. km., will undergo reconstruction, enhancing water supplies to 74,000 hectares of irrigated lands and reducing flooding risks for 64 settlements with 70,000 people.

Large-scale reconstruction of irrigation systems, the digitalization of canals, and modernization of key water channels including the strategic Satpayev canal will also take place. To promote water-saving technologies in agriculture, subsidies for creating irrigation systems and purchasing drip and sprinkler equipment will increase from 50% to 80%. "By 2026, the plan aims to raise the irrigated land area using water-saving technologies in the southern regions to 42%, equivalent to 613,600 hectares, resulting in savings of up to 1.5 cu. km. of water," the government said.

"The comprehensive plan aims to boost available water resources by 3.7 cu. km., expand irrigated land to 2.2 million hectares, decrease annual irrigation water losses by 3 cu. km., and provide water to 41 settlements with over 55,000 people," the government said.

Kazakhstan's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, reported that the country has 102.3 cu. km., with 54% formed within its borders and 46% coming from neighboring countries. Annual water consumption is around 25 cu. km., with 65% used for agriculture and 25% for industrial purposes.

The Prime Minister, Alikhan Smailov, emphasized the need to involve domestic companies, including building material manufacturers, in the plan's implementation. He also highlighted the importance of space monitoring technologies for tracking water consumption.

"Annually, we need to implement water-saving technologies on 150,000 hectares of irrigated areas. Currently, the implementation covers only 40-50,000 hectares per year. In the southern regions, facing the most significant water shortage, the implementation volume is minimal. Specific mechanisms must be developed to incentivize the adoption of water-saving technologies," Smailov said.