Kazakhstan strengthens international cooperation to combat floods

The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation plans to sign a memorandum with China on combating floods and high waters, as well as create a joint working group with Russia to coordinate actions on transboundary watercourses, Kazinform correspondent reports citing the ministry’s press-service.

Within the framework of these agreements, it is planned to improve the exchange of information and joint efforts to prevent possible consequences of floods. Additionally, Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov reported on preparations for the flood period at a government meeting:

"To ensure the collection and safe passage of flood water in the future, the ministry plans to build 42 new reservoirs with a total capacity of 2.6 billion cubic meters, as well as reconstruct 37 reservoirs with a total capacity of 3.7 billion cubic meters and about 14.5 thousand km of irrigation canals. This year, construction of two reservoirs began in the Turkestan region and reconstruction of three reservoirs in the Aktobe, Turkestan and West Kazakhstan regions. Also, branches of Kazvodkhoz began repair work on 34 hydraulic structures through which active flooding passed. In addition, mechanized cleaning of 95 km of canals in the West Kazakhstan and East Kazakhstan regions was carried out.”

More than 12 billion cubic meters of water collected in reservoirs during the recent floods is now being used in various sectors of the economy. The collection of flood waters in the Astana Reservoir through the K. Satpayev Canal saved more than 2 billion tenge.

The floods also helped improve the environmental situation by sending 80 million cubic meters of water to the Kamysh-Samara Lakes and 839 million cubic meters to the Kyzylorda Region via the Sarysu River. In 2024, Lake Balkhash was replenished by 12 billion cubic meters of water, and 7.4 billion cubic meters were sent to the Caspian Sea.

Since the beginning of 2024, Lake Balkhash was replenished by 12 billion cubic meters of water, and 7.4 billion cubic meters were sent to the Caspian Sea. As of the beginning of September, 8.4 billion cubic meters of water were used in agriculture, and 3.7 billion cubic meters in industry.

Earlier the Government of Kazakhstan allocated 576 million tenge to conduct bathymetric surveys to prepare for flood season in line with the Kazakh President’s tasks.