BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 18. Kazakhstan is set
to modernize water infrastructure in the Abay and East Kazakhstan
regions.
This was announced by the press service of the country's
Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation
According to the ministry, under the initiative, a pool of 24
projects has been formed to reconstruct reservoirs and canals in
the two regions.
''The project has received a positive conclusion as a state
investment project, paving the way for financing from the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Construction and
installation works are scheduled for 2027-2029,'' the ministry
says.
The measures are included in Kazakhstan's Concept for the
Development of the Water Resources Management System until
2030.
''The large-scale project is aimed at modernizing water
infrastructure in the eastern regions of Kazakhstan. This will help
ensure efficient management of water resources, including
transboundary resources, strengthen the protection of settlements
during floods, and contribute to the development of industry and
agriculture in the East Kazakhstan and Abay regions,'' said Sagi
Utelov, Director of the Department for Development of Water
Infrastructure at the Ministry of Water Resources and
Irrigation.
In addition, using funds saved under a joint project with the
EBRD to rehabilitate irrigation networks, Kazakhstan's Ministry of
Water Resources and Irrigation is carrying out concrete lining
works on 14 canals in the Zhambyl region. The total length of the
canals is 85.5 kilometers.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is accelerating a massive overhaul of its
water sector to tackle climate pressures, high agricultural waste,
and aging facilities. Led by the Ministry of Water Resources and
Irrigation, the nation has cut long-delayed infrastructure projects
by 47%, launched large-scale canal automation, and achieved 100%
basic drinking water access across all cities and villages.
