- Trilateral protocols set until 2026 to manage water and energy balance.
- Toktogul reservoir water releases are exchanged for electricity deliveries among nations.
- Agreements ensure irrigation, energy reliability, and risk mitigation for agriculture.
Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan have finalized a series of protocols that govern the water and energy equilibrium in the region until 2026, after a trilateral conference of the nations' energy and water management authorities in Cholpon-Ata.
The agreement details the responsibilities of the parties to guarantee water releases from the Toktogul reservoir in return for electricity supply from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to the Kyrgyz Republic. The authorities also came to a consensus on the terms for transporting electricity from Russia to the Kyrgyz Republic through Kazakhstan’s electrical networks.
These actions aim to preserve the essential water levels in the reservoir and supply irrigation water to southern Kazakhstan throughout the approaching growing season, as reported by the press service of the Kazakh Energy Ministry.
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During the meeting, the counterparts engaged in bilateral discussions. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan reached an agreement for the provision of approximately 900 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity from March to December 2026 to address anticipated shortages in Kazakhstan’s southern energy region during scheduled maintenance at power facilities.
“Work in the water and energy sector requires maximum precision and strict adherence to schedules. The signed protocols are working documents with specific figures, deadlines and prices,” said Kazakh Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov, who led the Kazakh delegation.
The ministry stated that the agreements will mitigate risks during the approaching autumn-winter season and establish reliable conditions for water storage for the next growing season — an essential element for the agricultural industry in southern Kazakhstan.