Kazakhstan begins water sector modernization – Tokayev

Kazakhstan has begun modernizing its water sector as the country is likely to face water shortage, Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the 19th Kazakhstan-Russia Interregional Cooperation Forum via videoconference, Kazinform Agency correspondent reports. 

The situation is worsened by the key and highly water intensive sectors of our economy, especially agriculture. According to experts, droughts and floods in Central Asia could lead to reduction in harvest by 30% by 2050. Our agricultural sector consumes over 60% of water and requires widespread use of water-saving technologies, said Tokayev at the Kazakhstan-Russian Interregional Cooperation Forum.

The country has started modernization of its water sector to address the said challenges. It is expected that the country will build 20 new and reconstruct not less than 15 existing dams, modernize and digitalize over 3.5 thousand kilometers of channels, allowing for around 2 additional cubic kilometers of water by 2027, Tokayev noted.

The country is developing a new water code to reduce the shortage of water resources. The joint roadmap to step up cooperation on research in the basis of Ural and Irtysh rivers is carried out with Russia.