17 reservoirs are set to be constructed in Kazakhstan, with
$2.7 billion allocated for the project. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
will provide funding through grants and loans. This announcement was made by
Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, the Kazakh Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation,
during a government meeting in the Mazhilis. He noted that the project will be
implemented in two stages. The first stage involves the construction of four
reservoirs this year. Additionally, modernization is planned, including the
digitalization of 115 canals spanning nearly 3,500 kilometres. The second
stage, set to begin in 2027, will see the construction of 13 new reservoirs and
the reconstruction of 11 existing ones. Over 5,000 kilometres of irrigation
canals across 10 regions will also be modernized.
«An agreement has been signed with the Islamic Development
Bank on technical assistance in the amount of $3.5 million for the study and
assessment of water and river basin issues for the Kazakh Scientific Research
Institute of Water Management, for the technical equipment of the national
state enterprise ‘Kazvodkhoz,’ and the evaluation of early response system
implementation for the Information and Analytical Center,» Nurzhigitov noted.
Kazakhstan has also signed an agreement with the French Development
Agency, which will provide a grant of 1.35 million euros for the development of
a master plan to preserve Lake Balkhash. The Government of Japan will allocate
a $2 million grant for the implementation of a flood prevention project. To
intensify this work, a special Coordination Council of Partners for the
development of the water sector was established in the country last year. Since
then, four agreements and 19 memorandums have been signed.
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