Kazakh media reports say Kazakhstan plans to construct twenty new reservoirs in nine regions in the coming years to reduce the country’s dependence on water supply from neighboring countries by an average of 25 percent. 

Speaking at the government meeting, the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov reportedly noted on December 11 that new reservoirs with a volume of 2.4 cubic kilometers will appear in the country’s nine regions in 2024-2026.  

This will increase the area of irrigated land by 250,000 hectares and reduce the threat of flooding for 70 rural settlements with a population of 137,000.

According to Nurzhigitov, Kazakhstan has 102.3 cubic kilometers of water, 54% of which is formed in the country’s territory, and the remaining 46% comes from neighboring countries.  The annual water consumption in the economy reaches nearly 25 cubic kilometers, of which 65% is used for agriculture and 25% for industrial needs.

15 existing water reservoirs with the volume of 1.9 cubic kilometers located in nine regions will be reconstructed.  This measure will help provide 74,000 hectares of irrigated lands with water and reduce flood risks for 64 settlements with the population of 70,000 people.

A large-scale reconstruction of irrigation systems, the digitalization of irrigation channels and modernization of Satpayev strategic channel is also planned.

According to the inventory results, Kazakhstan has 17,736 rivers and temporary watercourses, 4,024 lakes, 4,540 groundwater deposits, and 13,175 water management structures.