Central Asian states approve plan to automate Syrdarya water accounting

Kazakh Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan Daler Juma, Chairman of Turkmenistan’s State Committee on Water Resources Durdy Genjiev, Minister of Water Resources of Uzbekistan Shavkat Khamraev, governor of Turkistan region Nuralkhan Kusherov, and Kazakh Ambassador to Uzbekistan Yeraly Tugzhanov attended the meeting.

Kyrgyzstan joined the gathering as an observer.

Those present debated water reservoir limits for the Syrdarya and Amudarya basins during the 2026 growing season and approved the development of the draft plan for automated water accounting in the Syrdarya basin. A special working group will be formed by September.

Besides, they discussed the implementation of the Central Asia Water Efficiency Cooperation Project (CAWEC), backed by a World Bank grant, to improve water-use efficiency, and progress on the development of tasks set at the Councils of the Heads of State of the Founding States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.

Minister Nurzhigitov emphasized that the Central Asian Interstate Coordination Water Commission remains a key platform for coordinating water management decisions in Central Asia, ensuring balance among states and sustainable use of transboundary water resources.

Thanks to its coordinated work, stable water inflow to the Shardara reservoir has been ensured this year. Since April 1, 2026, about 3 billion cubic meters of water have entered the reservoir — exceeding last year’s and long-term averages. Water supply for agriculture is being carried out normally, and conditions in the Syrdarya basin are favorable.

The 95th meeting of the Central Asian Interstate Coordination Water Commission will be held in Turkmenistan.

It was earlier reported, Kazakhstan to develop groundwater management concept for 2027-2040.