On August 3, 2024, the 7th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Integrated Use of Transboundary Water Resources in Central Asia between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan took place at the Hilton Hotel in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The event was organized with the support of the Blue Peace Central Asia Initiative, funded by the Government of Switzerland.
The meeting attracted high-ranking participants, including the Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan, Daler Jum’a, and the Minister of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Khamraev, as well as delegations from both countries.
The discussions centered around the potential use of water resources from Lake Sarez to supply clean drinking water to the region. The delegations also explored the implementation of new joint transboundary projects in the water management sector and expressed their commitment to further expanding cooperation in this area.
The issue of using fresh water from Lake Sarez for drinking purposes was previously discussed in 2018 during a meeting between the Presidents of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Emomali Rahmon and Shavkat Mirziyoyev. At that time, the leaders instructed the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation to study this possibility.
President Emomali Rahmon has repeatedly emphasized at international forums that Tajikistan possesses significant freshwater resources, proposing the use of Lake Sarez to provide long-term drinking water supply for Central Asian countries. The possibility of supplying drinking water from Lake Sarez to other Asian countries, including Iran, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, has also been considered.
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) is also actively supporting initiatives for the effective use of transboundary water resources and is committed to promoting sustainable development in the region.
For Your Information:
The Blue Peace Central Asia Initiative, launched by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, has been implemented by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) since 2018.
Lake Sarez is located in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters above sea level. The lake stretches over 70 kilometers in length, has a maximum depth of about 500 meters, and holds a water volume of 17 cubic kilometers. Lake Sarez was formed in February 1911 as a result of a powerful earthquake that caused massive rockfalls and landslides, blocking the Bartang River. The resulting natural dam became known as the Usoi Dam.
