Transboundary Water Resources Problems and Cooperations in Central Asia
Authors:   Asia-Europe Perspective Association, Kim Gene Uhc , Kim Jeong-in , Hong Jun-Keun 
Published: June 2018

Central Asian countries developed their standard for water and energy resources under the former Soviet Union resource-allocation policies. In the early stage of independence of these countries, they continued to share the natural resources including water resources. Due to the climate change, water resources conflict among upstream and downstream countries took place. The upstream Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan possess rich water resources and hydropower resources, but they have few energy resources. The downstream Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are rich in energy resources such as oil, gas, but they faced with a severe water shortage. Since upstream countries are short of energy resources, they treat water resources as a strategic commodity.
Tien Shan glacier of Central Asia was decreased into of one fourth of the total glacier area for the past 50 years because of climate change. Until 2050, half of the glacier will be gone. Tien Shan glacier water is very important water resources for the low level area such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan. As Aral sea is also dry up in recently, it had declined to only 10% of its original size. Salt lake, Aral sea, also has an effect on the breathing problem for the people and turns the land into salt surface. Only 70,000ha of forest has been remained out of 500,000ha of forestry. 18 species are already extinct out of 423 species and 50 species are facing extinction in the future.
Central Asian countries have adopted several projects for improve water supply and water quality, or for implement Integrated Water Resources Management(IWRM). An agreement on attraction of Islamic Development Bank(IDB) funds(more than $300 million) was signed for implementation of two water conservancy projects in Kazakhstan(Almaty region). Under the first project on improving water supply, construction of water pipelines is planned in 15 locations, the total length of 680 kilometers. The second project “Reconstruction of the irrigation and drainage systems in the Republic of Kazakhstan” provides for the restoration of irrigation system in Almaty region and improvement of soil condition in South Kazakhstan region. This project will cost $ 235.5 million, and UNDP funds will be involved as co-financing. Kyrgyzstan also has introduced GoAL WaSH programme from 2013∼2015. Through this programme, public education is very effective for the clean water and sanitation. On 2015, the government of Tajikistan adopted the Water Sector Reform Programme 2016∼2025. The Water Sector Reform is about transferring water resources management from administrative to hydrological boundaries. As the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources is the reform coordinator, new organizations have been formed: the National Water Council(a consultative body on a state water policy at the national level), River Basin Organizations(a basin executive authority and responsible for coordinating the implementation of the state water policy at a basin level), River Basin Councils(a basin representative authority representing the voice of basin water users and stakeholders). Turkmenistan is the highest per capita users of water in the world. However a salinity increased 25 times compared with former Soviet Union, as inefficient technology and bad water distribution. In order to solve this problem, government, public company, and private stake holders are involving a law amendment in order to implement IWRM. In order to have secure water resources, Swiss have subsidized 2.66million dollars to the Uzbekistan. Introducing drip irrigation and furrow irrigation, 5 farm can save 47,500㎥ of water.