# Water Supply and Usage in Central Asia, Tian Shan Basin

Polina Lemenkova

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Polina Lemenkova. Water Supply and Usage in Central Asia, Tian Shan Basin. Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environmental Protection. PhiDAC-2012, Sep 2012, Niš, Serbia. pp.331-338, 10.6084/m9 figshare.7211999. hal-02023017

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Polina Lemenkova<fnref n="1" />

# WATER SUPPLY AND USAGE IN CENTRAL ASIA, TIAN SHAN BASIN

**Abstract:** The paper focuses on analysis of Central Asian hydro-energetic system and water usage in Tian Shan region. Tian Shan system is important water resource in Central Asia: mountains river waters are intensely taken for hydropower energy, urban systems, irrigation. But geopolitics in Tian Shan is difficult: it crosses five densely populated countries. Current problem consists in water delivery between territories located in the highlands with excellent water supply and those located in valleys with water shortage. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan control river basins, and Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan depend on water supply. The problem of water use causes debates among these countries. Besides, climate warming affects glaciers and causes water deficit. Altogether, this leads to difficulties in hydro-energetics. A multidisciplinary analysis was performed in research: geopolitical problems of water supply in Tian Shan, spatial distribution of hydro-energetic resources and climate impact on hydro-energetics.

**Key words:** hydro energy, Tian Shan, geopolitics, water usage

## СНАБДЕВАЊЕ ВОДОМ И УПОТРЕБА У СРЕДЊОЈ АЗИЈИ, ТИАН ШАН БАСЕН

**Резиме:** Рад се заснива на анализи Централно-азијског енергетског система и искоришћења воде у региону Tian Shan. Tian Shan je важан извор воде у Централној Азији: воде планинских река се интензивно користе за добијање хидроенергије, урбане системе и наводњавање и тако даље. Али, геополитика у Tian Shan je сложена: ту се сусреће пет густо насељених држава. Тренутни проблем je у достави воде између територија које се налазе у планинским крајевима са одличном снабдевеношћу водом и оних које се налазе у долинама са мањком воде. Tajikistan и Kyrgyzstan контролишу речне басене, док Kazakhstan и Uzbekistan зависе од водоснабдевања. Проблем снабдевања водом узрокује дебате између ових држава. Поред тога, глобално загревање утиче на глечере и узрокује дефицит воде. Све у свему, ово доводи до потешкоћа и водоснабдевању и њеном коришћењу. Мултидисциплинарним анализама су истражени: геополитички проблеми водоснабдевања у Tian Shan, просторна дистрибуција хидро-енергетских извора и климатски утицај на хидро-енергију.

**Кључне речи:** хидроенергија, Тиан Шан, геополитика, вода коришћења

## 1. INTRODUCTION

The paper focuses on environmental analysis of Central Asian energetic system and usage of waters from Tian Shan glaciers. The Tian Shan is a Central Asian mountain system extending to 2,500 km breadthwise. It is one of the major water supply in Central Asia, since it contains 7,590 glaciers with an overall area of 13,271.45 km². Many rivers originate in these glaciers and snowfields and feed major river streams. Intensely taken for hydropower energy production, sustainable functioning of urban systems, agricultural activities, irrigation and other human needs, river waters are highly important hydrological resource for local population. At the same time, geopolitical location of Tian Shan is difficult: it crosses

<footnote n="1">¹PhD student, TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden Helmholtzstr. 10 01069 Dresden, Germany, Polina.Lemenkova@mailbox.tu-dresden.de +372-588-910-19</footnote>
five densely populated Central Asian countries. Therefore, actual problem of water usage system region consists in water delivery pattern.

Tian Shan region can be divided on territories located in the highlands of plateaux with rich hydrological resources and excellent water supply, and region with water shortage, located in the lowlands and valleys. For example, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan control basins of Syrdaria and Amudaria rivers, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are dependent on water delivery. Nowadays, the problem of water supply is a subject of discussions and conflicts among neighboring countries in Tian Shan region.

Apart from geographic location, there are impacts of environmental and climate change on water resources. Global climate warming seriously affects Tian Shan hydrological system and causes glacier reduction, decrease of snow coverage in high mountains, and deficit of waters. Multiplied by geopolitical questions, this leads to difficulties in water supply and usage. A multidisciplinary analysis was performed in current work: geopolitical problems of water supply in Tian Shan caused by regional distribution of hydropower resources, and impact of climate change on the hydrological settings within study area.

# 2. GEOGRAPHIC SETTINGS OF TIAN SHAN REGION

## 2.1. Geographic location of the study area

The Tian Shan is a Central Asian complex mountain system extending in westward direction (Fig.1). Geographically Tian Shan straddles five countries with population mostly supporting traditional style of life which include livestock husbandry, intense grazing, farming and other agricultural activities. Tian Shan is the northernmost existing montane range with elevations of peaks reaching higher than 7.000 m. Environmental settings of Tian Shan are influenced by combination of Northern (boreal) and Asian climatic factors. Therefore, Tian Shan has unique and diverse montane environment, with more than 4000 wild species, many of which are endemic, rare and relict.

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>Figure 1. Study region: Tian Shan mountains, Central Asia.</figcaption></figure>

Source: Britannica Encyclopedia Online.

The Tian Shan (sometimes referred as Tien Shan), or Celestial Mountains, is one of the largest high mountain systems in continental climate of Central Asia, covering covers 800 000 km². Geographically, Tian Shan extends 2,500 km westwards across Central Asia between 39°-46° N and 69°-95° E.

The Tian Shan ranges compose large, isolated montane system, surrounded by the Tarim desert basin of north-western China, Lake Issyk Kul, and north-western desert regions in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The altitude belt of the mountain range lies between the 2,800 and 7,400 m Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL) with most major peaks located at 4000-6000 m, and the highest altitude reaching 7,349 m [18].

## 2.2. Environment of Tian Shan: current problems

Since mid-1970s the observation of the remotely located areas of the Earth has been facilitated due to the development of the satellite industry, which provided remote sensing data for glacier monitoring. Systematic monitoring of the mountainous areas enabled to detect rapid changes in the glacier coverage of Tian Shan since past four decades.
According to the numerous reports [2], [3], [6], [8], [10], there are changes in the current glaciation in Tian Shan mountains, which causes changes in hydro-energetic resource supply. There are twofold reasons for environmental and hydrological changes in this area, caused by climate reasons and by the anthropogenic factors. These factors are discussed below.

### 1.2.1 Impact of climate on hydro resources

The main reason for the deglaciation is overall increase of summer temperatures and decrease of the precipitation, which are the consequences of the climate change. Thus, the average rise in air temperature in Tian Shan mountains is 0.01°C yr over the range, and the precipitation in the Tien Shan increased to 1.2 mm yr since 1950s [1]. Due to the geographical diversity of Tian Shan, there are certain variations in the temporal changes of environmental parameter, such as surface air temperature, precipitation, runoff, glacier mass, and snow thickness. Hence, the precipitation increase is lesser at high altitudes at above 2000. The low altitudes in northern and western regions are mostly affected by climate change comparing to inner and southern regions [1].

Recently increased in air temperatures in Tian Shan reinforced thawing of the glaciers, the period and intensity of melt. However, due to the strong impact of the geographic location and local climate factors, glaciers in different regions of Tian Shan melt with different rates. The most intensive glacier retreat is detected on the northern ranges of Tian Shan: -361km², which constitutes 14,3% [18], while the southern areas are the least affected. Also high rates in melt are detected in the central and inner areas: 287 and 244 km² with 10% and 5% respectively [18].

Climate change has also affected hydrological systems of semi-desert area of Aral Sea, which in turn are affecting seasonal water availability for irrigation in the Aral Sea. Thus, it is reported [15] that recently the summer floods, which is necessary for irrigation in Uzbekistan is reduced in the last decades. Water shortage necessarily affecting hydro-economic sectors of the countries located in the disaster area, such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

### 1.2.2 Impact of anthropogenic factors

Possible anthropogenic threats, that can induce environmental changes, include overgrazing at higher elevations by the local people, and local deforestation, which may lead to the partial decrease in biodiversity of the Tian Shan. Finally, the work of forest management and guarding has been weakened in the last years. As a result of cattle overgrazing, fires, deforestation, terracing of slopes, assignment of the grounds under construction of various objects and other factors there is an essential reduction of an area of distribution of wood and tangled vegetation. Due to the environmental threats and increased anthropogenic pressure on such fragile environment, the environment of Tian Shan will degrade: for example, the mountain forest area would decrease by 10-20% with 50 years.

Another problem is connected to Aral Sea: due to the salinization and drying of the Aral Sea in Central Asia, which is a part of Tian Shan basin, the large areas of saline soil have now formed. Additionally, monsoon winds carry over towards south direction of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, naturally contribute to the intensive melting of glaciers. It is demonstrated [5] that the Aral Sea basin has suffered an enormous shortage of water resources during the last decades. The consequences of drying lakes and rivers have extremely negative effects on the society, economic sector and hydro energy supply. The human-controlled hydrological regime of the major tributary rivers, Amu Daria and Syr Daria, flowing into Aral Sea, is a major factor affecting ecosystem sustainability, which are especially sensitive in the conditions of the semi-arid climate of Aral Sea Basin [17].

## 2. HYDRO-ENERGETIC RESOURCES OF TIAN SHAN

### 2.1. Glaciation of Tian Shan

The general hydrologic settings and distribution of glaciers in Tian Shan are largely influenced by the climatic factors and geographic location in the Central Asia. The annual air temperatures affect precipitation regime of Tian Shan: runoff, snow and ice coverage. Totally, there are 7,590 glaciers with an overall area of 13,271.45 km² detected in Tian Shan [18], which makes it one of the major water supply in Central Asia. The most prevalent glacier type is large valley glacier, which takes 82% of all
glacier areas [18]. Glaciers often occur along the crests of the mountain ranges. The largest glaciers are concentrated in central, inner part of Tian Shan. Since the Late Pleistocene Maximum, there are fluctuations in Tian Shan glaciation with the maximum level corresponding to the Issyk-Kul lake transgression [8]. The changes in the glaciation regime are still presented, which includes general trend of warming, but also some advances of small glaciers occurred recurrently, as proved by moraine sediments [8].

## 2.1. Hydrology and climate of Tian Shan

The rivers in Tian Shan have typically mountain character Since there is a significant difference in elevations between the mountain ridges and the plains at their base, river streams, usually plunge down the mountain slopes through deep and narrow gorges (Fig.2). After they flow out onto the plains, they form vast fan-shaped deposits of silt and mud. Climatic conditions of Tian Shan directly affect hydro-energetic resources and influence formation of glaciers and snowfields. In general, Tian Shan has typical continental climate, which is caused by Central Asian location.

However, there are some local climatic differences formed in various geographic conditions: the most extremely cold and dry climate is in inner parts of mountains on the high plateaux, while northern and western slopes of Tien-Shan are characterized by more temperate climate. Thus, the mean summer temperature is 3.7°C at the altitude of the Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) in the western regions and -8.1°C in the east; the annual precipitation is 1500-2000 mm in the west and 200-400 mm in the east, respectively. [8]. The northern slopes of Tian Shan, such as Kyrgyz Alatau and Zailinsky Alatau, have major influence of cyclonic activity. Precipitation in Tian Shan reaches its maximal level in spring and summer seasons, which coincides with the ice and snow melt. In winter the Siberian anticyclone prevents much precipitation in this area [3].

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>Figure 2. A typical mountain river in Tian Shan.
Source: ecosystema.ru</figcaption></figure>

In general, the precipitation also increases with altitude. According to the moisture conditions, i.e. precipitation and evaporation, the alpine zone in Tian Shan ranges is similar to the zonal ecosystems of other mountain vegetation alpine zones in boreal and subboreal palearctic regions.

## 3. WATER USAGE AND SUPPLY IN TIAN SHAN REGION

Geopolitically, Tian Shan crosses borders of several Central Asian countries and western China. Approximately half of the Tian Shan mountains, the Eastern region from 80° E (eastwards from Issyk Kul Lake), is located in China, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Western territories are situated in Kyrgyzstan (including Issyk Kul lake depression), and northern ranges of Tian Shan are placed in Kazakhstan. Some small ranges of the Tian Shan spread to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

### 3.1. Hydro energy systems in the region
Hydropower resources are a major factor directly affecting and influencing sustainable development of the politician and economic systems in Central Asia. The main water resources in Central Asia are located in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which control major river basins. It is caused by the upper location on Tian Shan plateau of both of these countries. For example, on the territory of Tajikistan 64 km³ of water flow of the Aral Sea basin is formed, which is ca 60% of the total flow towards Aral Sea basin [19]. The particularity of Tajikistan consists in hydro-energetic sector as the most powerful and influencing the overall economy of the country: 95% from all energetic sectors are taken by hydro-energy, while usually this part is not exceeding 10-20 % in other countries [14]. At the same time, only about 10% is used for internal purposes within republic from the total country runoff. The rest of the runoff goes downwards from the country where it is used e.g. for irrigation. In Kazakhstan, on the contrary, it is demonstrated [4] that electricity demand in the country is high for all sectors: the industrial, service, and residential sectors, but the country is depending of water resources. As for Kyrgyzstan, this country is rich in hydro energetic resources, and generates ca 90% of its electricity from large-scale hydroelectric power stations, located along the cascade of the Naryn River. However, after the fall of the USSR, water resources in Kyrgyzstan have declined due to climate change issues, ineffective management and cross-border water claims among Central Asian states [13].

## 3.2. Problem of water supply and usage: regional conflicts and decisions

The reason of the hydro-energetic problems and water usage in Central Asia lies in the fact that water resources in Central Asia are unevenly distributed: Central Asian region is clearly divided into water-rich countries (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) and those dependent on them (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan). Kyrgyzstan majorly controls Syr Darya River basin, and Tajikistan - the Amu Darya river (Tab.1). The Amu Darya is the largest, longest and the most important river in Central Asia. The river is 2400 km, basin area is over 500 thousands km². Syr Darya has its most drainage areas in Kyrgyzstan, where it loses water for irrigation in its lower reaches.

<table><caption>Table 4- Formation of Syr Darya and Amu Daria rivers in Central Asian republics. Source: [12]</caption><thead><tr><th>Basin drainage</th><th>Uzbekistan</th><th>Kyrgyzstan</th><th>Kazakhstan</th><th>Tajikistan</th><th>Iran</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Syr Daria</td><td>15.2%</td><td>75.2%</td><td>6.9%</td><td>2.7%</td><td>0%</td></tr><tr><td>Amu Daria</td><td>13.9%</td><td>0%</td><td>0%</td><td>74%</td><td>8.5%</td></tr></tbody></table>

With the total annual hydropower resources in the country of ca 600 billion kWh, Tajikistan is the third largest in the world and second in the new independent (post-Soviet) countries after Russia. For example, the Nurek hydroelectric power station (capacity of 3 million kWh) controls about 40% of water resources needed by Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan [20]. Additionally, Tajikistan has significant fresh water reserves mostly stored in glaciers (over 60% of Central Asia). The uneven distribution of water resources in Central Asia evidently leads to regional and local conflicts of interest among key water providers (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) and its major customers (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan). In particular, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are interested to use generate hydro power electricity both to meet their own needs and for export to third countries. They are opposed by Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which insist on the primarily irrigation water usage, for old built in Soviet times hydro power plants, as well as for the planned new ones [21].

<table><caption>Table 5- Area under irrigation under Aral Sea basin, thousands of ha and %. Source: Eurasian Development Bank, 2008.</caption><thead><tr><th>Yea<br>r</th><th>Kazakhstan</th><th>Kyrgyzstan</th><th>Tajikistan</th><th>Turkmenistan</th><th>Uzbekistan</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1990</td><td>782 (10.5%)</td><td>410 (5.6%)</td><td>714 (9.4%)</td><td>1339 (18.0%)</td><td>4222 (56.5%)</td><td>7507 (100%)</td></tr><tr><td>1995</td><td>786 (9.8%)</td><td>416 (5.2%)</td><td>719 (9.1%)</td><td>1736 (21.7%)</td><td>4298 (54.2%)</td><td>7955 (100%)</td></tr><tr><td>2000</td><td>786 (10.0%)</td><td>415 (6.0%)</td><td>719 (9.0%)</td><td>1714 (22.0%)</td><td>4259 (53.0%)</td><td>8101 (100%)</td></tr></tbody></table>

The main point of claims from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the neighboring countries consists in financial expenses that they bear due to the hydro plants exploitation. They require that Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan increase their financial contribution for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The main demand is to contribute equally to the expenses of hydroelectric power production. Kyrgyzstan and
Uzbekistan debate over the years about prices to maintain hydro-technical infrastructure. Kyrgyzstan consider water as a commercial product and wants to introduce monetary charge for water in the future (nowadays, Kyrgyzstan receives some compensation for excess in generated electricity from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan). But the problem in the region is that that price elasticity in the region is very low [4], which means that it is with difficulties that countries perform a dialog about market relationships.

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>Figure 3. Rogun dam for planned hydro power plants of Vakhsh River (under construction), Tajikistan. Source: http://procella.ru</figcaption></figure>

In view of this, a paid water usage on the commercial basis is the worst idea to be introduced in Central Asia. Possibly it can cause high risks of social and political rebels and revolutions in the countries within the region. The official purpose of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is to receive reasonable market compensation from other central Asian countries for services that they provide with water supply [12]. Though both these countries are trying to solve current financial problems by increasing state wealth, but current strategy should be adjustment into a regional scenario of sustainable geopolitical development with all countries as beneficiaries and no those one in disadvantage position. Another problem within the region consists in active water usage for agricultural needs, which is in generally increasing (Tab. 2)

An additional factor of hydro energetic difficulties in the region is caused by an artificially accelerated development of hydro power energetics in Tajikistan comparing to actual water usage, since the country does not have enough oil and gas reserves. Thus, as planned on the governmental level, by 2010, Tajikistan plans to become energy independent state and start electricity export to Iran, Pakistan and India. For instance, in Tajikistan it is planned to construct 14 hydroelectric power plants on the river Panj, a major tributary of the Amu Darya, and on river Rogun (Fig.3).

<table><caption>Table 6- Structure of energy sources in Central Asia. Source: Eurasian Development Bank, 2008.</caption><thead><tr><td>Country</td><td>Hydro energy</td><td>Gas</td><td>Oil</td><td>Coal</td><td>Total</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Tajikistan</td><td>96%</td><td>2%</td><td>1%</td><td>1%</td><td>100%</td></tr><tr><td>Kyrgyzstan</td><td>82%</td><td>2%</td><td>5%</td><td>11%</td><td>100%</td></tr><tr><td>Kazakhstan</td><td>1%</td><td>16%</td><td>50%</td><td>33%</td><td>100%</td></tr><tr><td>Uzbekistan</td><td>1%</td><td>84%</td><td>13%</td><td>2%</td><td>100%</td></tr><tr><td>Turkmenistan</td><td>0%</td><td>83%</td><td>17%</td><td>0%</td><td>100%</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>2%</td><td>48%</td><td>33%</td><td>17%</td><td>100%</td></tr></tbody></table>

This project is interesting to investors from the United States and Pakistan and China. Kyrgyzstan is also seeking foreign investors for the construction of the cascade of Kambarata hydro power plants on Syr Darya. This situation caused negative reaction of neighbor countries, because construction of new hydropower plants will involves serious changes in water delivery: huge dams will be constructed and large territories will be filled out by the water (Fig.3), which will cause water shortage in the surrounding territories. Evidently, the non-diplomatic, one-sided energy policy of energy-rich countries can lead to the difficulties in the geopolitical relationships, especially with strategic neighboring countries. The problem of water usage and delivery is a constant and important topic in the energy debates in Central Asia. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are countries with predominant natural gas economy, rich in
hydrocarbon resources [16]. Kazakhstan has the most significant oil resources and natural gas reserves, and is expected to become one of the world's top 10 oil producers within the next decade [11]. Therefore, these hydrocarbon rich countries threaten to make pressure on Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, using resources of natural gas that they almost totally control (Tab.3).

Lack of water in the densely populated Ferghana valley in Uzbekistan is a serious potential trigger of social revolution, which may arise in case of deficit of water. In such situation special attention should be paid to oil and natural gas resources stored in Caspian Sea basin which is potential major reservoir for energy [7]. However, a consensus in the energy usage should be strongly observed for all parties, since the supply in oil, gas, hydro and coal resources are distributed highly uneven in the study region (Tab.3). Local Uzbek-Kyrgyz conflicts concerning water supply happen from time to time in Ferghana valley (Uzbekistan). The main claim of Uzbekistan is to provide necessary amount of water for Uzbek agriculture. However, the prices for the water resources are often a point of disagreement. The debates about new hydro plants construction arise, because it will negatively affect sensitive environment and a man-nature balance within the region. To reduce water supply conflicts, water management should be based on effective operating existing hydro power plants rather than construction of new water supply systems [9]. The effective management options and decisions for economic values should be taken in an integrated manner, so that problem of water scarcity can be smoothly solved.

4. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION

The Central Asian region is one of the most complex regions of the world, due to the difficult geopolitical situation, complex boundaries pattern and concentration of the densely populated countries with huge demand for water resources. At the same time, after the fall of the USSR the financial situation of Central Asian countries became difficult. Lack of development investments leads to the outdated style of economy and agrarian system (e.g. ineffective, water-consuming irrigation). The situation is aggravated by natural factors (fundamental climate issues and glacier melt).

Since the independence of Central Asian countries after the disintegration of the USSR, there were serious tensions in the point of sharing water resources. The main reason for these conflicts is caused by uneven distribution of the resources and geospatial location of the involved countries: Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, located in the lower reaches of Tian Shan region, have lack of the resources though demand huge amount of water for various needs, while Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, typically mountain countries, are rich in water resources and control almost all hydro-energetic resources, supply and delivery within the region.

The paradox in this situation consists in the overall availability of the water resources in the Tian Shan region. In general, there are more than enough water resources in Central Asia. The most problems are caused by ineffective resource management. Thus, excessive loss of water use in Central Asia is mostly caused old irrigation system, which is still traditionally used in agriculture, when water consumption exceeds 3-10 times the world standards. The transition towards modern agricultural system and sustainable water management will save considerable amounts of the water resources in the region. Another problem is that the modernization of the Central Asian agriculture and introduction of modern city management require serious internal support and external financial investments.

That being said, the optimal decision of the sustainable water usage in Central Asia, should be based on well-balanced and politically wise decisions, which consider interests of all countries. This should be taken as a major, general direction for further development of hydro energetic system in Central Asia. Thus, the decisions taken at governmental level should be well discussed and agreed by all parties, with strictly coordinated actions at local, regional and national levels of water and hydro-energy management. Furthermore, the decisions should be exact and concrete. Finally, the inter-governmental contradictions between the states controlling water resources and those consuming them, should be regulated. Advisable can also be involvement of the independent third governmental party with no interest in local conflict, which could assist in solving dubious questions of water energy usage and supply.

Current paper performed critical analysis of the geopolitical situation caused by uneven distribution of hydro energetic resources within Central Asia, as well as discussion and an overview of some of the current local conflicts and tensions caused by ineffective management of water resources. Besides, a geospatial analysis of the current environmental problems within the study area, caused by the climatic and anthropogenic factors, is made.
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