The construction of the Koshtepa Canal in Afghanistan and the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Plant in Tajikistan will impact river flows in Central Asia. This was stated by Zhusipbek Kazbekov, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, at a panel session at the Asian Development Bank meeting in Samarkand, according to a Gazeta correspondent.

“Water is extremely important for Uzbekistan because we are located in an arid region. We are the downstream country on two major rivers—the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya. About 80% of our water comes from neighboring countries located upstream,” he said.

According to Kazbekov, new projects in upstream countries are creating additional pressure on the water system.

“Furthermore, there are new factors. For example, the Koshtepa Canal is being built in Afghanistan—this is an upstream activity. Tajikistan is building the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station. All of this will, of course, impact river regimes,” the deputy head of the committee noted.

 

He recalled that agriculture remains the main consumer of water in Uzbekistan (90%).

Aral Sea

Kazbekov also pointed out the environmental component of the water problem, in particular the situation with the Aral Sea.

“We have a drying Aral Sea—it’s receiving almost zero water. That means there’s practically no water left for ecosystems,” said a National Committee representative, referring to lakes, reed beds, wetlands, animals, birds, and plants.

Following the transformation of the environmental agency into a National Committee directly reporting to the president, authorities are discussing with the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture the possibility of increasing natural flows—the minimum volumes of water needed to maintain the environment.

“Furthermore, we have important wetlands in the lower Amu Darya delta. They play a significant role both for ecosystems and in addressing carbon issues,” Kazbekov added.

Responding to a question about cooperation with Kazakhstan on the Aral Sea region and afforestation, the deputy head of the National Committee noted that the current government adheres to a “very pragmatic approach.”

“Regarding the Aral Sea, this issue has been addressed since the 1960s, that is, for more than half a century. During this time, more than $3 billion has been spent on discussions related to the Aral Sea, but in practice, on the ground, almost nothing has changed,” he said.

Kazbekov recalled that in 2017-2018, the President of Uzbekistan addressed the UN General Assembly and showed a map of the Aral Sea. Following this, he said, a nationwide campaign was launched to combat sand and dust storms emanating from the bottom of the dried-up Aral Sea.

“We’ve now reached 2 million hectares of saxaul-planted areas. That is, restored forest lands. Furthermore, we’ve created over 6 million hectares of protected natural areas. And now we’re seeing saigas starting to return because we’ve managed to restore a suitable ecosystem for them,” he said.

According to Kazbekov, environmental policy should take into account not only the needs of agriculture and infrastructure projects, but also the interests of nature.

“Nature itself can’t speak—wildlife and animals can’t represent their own interests. Therefore, we must think a little more broadly,” emphasized the deputy head of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change.

Koshtepa

According to him, Uzbekistan is working with Afghanistan on a bilateral basis and discussing possible participation in the Koshtepa Canal project, including solutions to improve its effectiveness.

“Perhaps we could make this canal more efficient—for example, by lining it with concrete or other solutions. We could also transfer our technologies, since they’re planning to grow cotton. Perhaps we could help them and teach them how to use water more efficiently for irrigation,” he said.

Kazbekov also reported that Uzbekistan is discussing with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (Kambarata HPP-1) participation in the development of hydropower projects in upstream countries, including on the Naryn River.

“We’re talking about major investments by downstream countries in hydropower projects in upstream countries. We’re also working with our neighbors on energy agreements of sorts, and we’re also cooperating with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and other downstream countries,” he noted.

Interregional cooperation

Kazbekov identified strengthening existing regional structures—the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea—as his second area of ​​focus. He stated that following the recent environmental summit in Astana, the chairmanship of one of the regional structures will shift from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan starting next year.

“This means we’re not just talking about environmental or water diplomacy, but also about practical work with our neighbors,” the deputy head of the committee emphasized.

Speaking about the ADB’s Glacier to Farms initiative , Kazbekov noted that glaciers in the region have shrunk by approximately a third over the past 50 years. “This will impact water availability in the long term, and the overall ecological landscape of the region will change,” he said.

According to him, the ADB initiative came at a “very opportune time.” It envisions a large-scale, multi-country program, with the Naryn River basin—one of the Syr Darya tributaries—as the pilot area. “We have high hopes for this initiative and are ready to develop and support such projects,” Kazbekov stated.

Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev previously noted that Uzbekistan, located “in the very heart of Central Asia,” should act as a coordinator or catalyst for regional projects. He argued that this approach allows for risk sharing and makes large energy projects more attractive for financing.