Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan have reached a mutual agreement to support each other in managing water and energy resources, as the region faces worsening hydrological conditions.
The deal was announced by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy following a trilateral meeting held on November 22 in Almaty, attended by energy and water resource ministers from all three countries.
The talks focused on the alarming drop in water levels at the Toktogul Reservoir — a critical source of hydropower in Kyrgyzstan. President Sadyr Japarov noted that the reservoir has lost 2 billion cubic meters of water, prompting electricity consumption limits in parts of the country.
Under the agreement:
· Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will supply Kyrgyzstan with electricity during the autumn and winter, reducing the burden on local hydropower stations and enabling water conservation at Toktogul.
· In return, Kyrgyzstan will release stored water in the spring and summer of 2026 to support irrigation needs in southern agricultural regions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The ministers also discussed regional measures for energy conservation and system optimization. Uzbekistan confirmed its readiness to provide electricity transit routes and assist in balancing the regional grid.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a trilateral protocol outlining winter energy supply volumes and water accumulation targets through 2026.
Fergana News reports that additionally, Kyrgyzstan has requested an extra quota of natural gas from Russia. The gas would be processed into electricity at Uzbek power plants to help meet Kyrgyzstan’s winter energy demands.
Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov reportedly notes that despite high costs, such steps are essential for ensuring energy stability during the cold season.
