Water resources officials from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan have jointly stressed the urgent need to modernize aging pumping stations in Tajikistan]s Sughd province, which are consuming electricity at rates far exceeding acceptable norms due to severe wear and outdated equipment.
Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Water Management Shavkat Hamrayev, and Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov visited key water infrastructure sites in Sughd province on August 2 to bolster cooperation on sustainable water resource management across Central Asia.
During the tour, they reportedly inspected the “Somgor-1” and “Khojabaqirgon-1” pumping stations in Bobojon-Ghafourov district, along with the “Marham” station in the city of Konibodom. These facilities are vital to irrigating thousands of hectares of farmland and play a critical role in supporting the region’s agricultural output.
Experts noted that the stations—constructed between the 1950s and 1970s—are now heavily deteriorated. The outdated systems consume far more electricity than modern standards allow, underscoring the need for immediate upgrades to improve energy efficiency and reduce operational costs.
The ministers emphasized the importance of attracting investment for the modernization of this infrastructure and sharing best practices in water resource governance. They stressed that in the face of climate change, efficient and sustainable water management is essential not only for economic stability but also for regional security.
At a working meeting in the city of Guliston, the parties focused on coordinated management of the Syr Darya River Basin. Particular attention was given to the implementation of the Trilateral Protocol on the operational regime of the Bahri Tojik reservoir during the 2025 summer season.
The meeting concluded with a renewed call for joint efforts to upgrade water pumping systems and build a more resilient and energy-efficient water infrastructure network across Central Asia.
