BLOG
Water A Pawn In Central Asian Energy Dispute
December 5th, 2009
Courtesy of EurasiaNet, an interesting report on Uzbekistan’s decision to leave the Central Asia energy grid – which cuts off Tajikistan from importing and exporting electricity – has some Tajik officials suggesting that water supplies to Uzbekistan be restricted during the summer irrigation season. As background, the energy and irrigation infrastructure in Central Asia was […]
Read more »Melting Ice = Rising Tensions In Central Asia
November 27th, 2009
Via Registan, an interesting contemplation on the political, social, and economic impacts that glacial retreat in Kyrgyzstan will have upon the neighboring countries of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in the next 20 years. As the article notes: “…Geologists have recently brought to attention the significant melting of Kyrgyz glaciers Adigene and Petrova. This story is […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China Enters Eurasia’s Water Wars
November 21st, 2009
Courtesy of Window on Eurasia, an interesting report on the impact – both ecological and geopolitical – of China’s recent activities to take large volumes of water out of the Irtysh that normally would go to Kazakhstan and Russia. As the article notes: “…By unilaterally taking out of the Irtysh far more water than ever […]
Read more »Climate Change + Melting Glaciers = Increased Water Tension In Central Asia
October 28th, 2009
Courtesy of the BBC, a report on global warming’s impact /exacerbation of regional water tensions in Central Asia. As the article notes: “That one – called Adigene – has decreased in size by about 20% over the last 50 years,” he says. He adds that a neighbouring glacier, Aksai, has disappeared completely. Mr Ermenbaev, who […]
Read more »Water Tension In Central Asia
October 9th, 2009
Courtesy of The Open Economy, a detailed look at the growing water crisis in Central Asia. We have covered this several times previously in this forum but, given the increasing severity and likelihood of transnational tensions, it seems useful to address it once again. As the article notes: “…At first glance, China’s neighbour Kyrgyzstan, with […]
Read more »A Dying Aral Sea Gives Rise To Increased Tensions In The Region
September 29th, 2009
Via Window on Eurasia, a report that demise of the Aral Sea, the loss of which is already having an adverse effect on two-thirds of the 50 million people in Central Asia, is rapidly increasing tensions in the capitals of the five countries of the region and could spark new and larger military conflicts among […]
Read more »