BLOG
The Thirsty Dragon: The Sino-Kazakh Water Dispute Flows Downstream
August 10th, 2008
An insightful analysis of the issue of water rights and management between Kazakhstan and China, who share some 20 transboundary rivers and are competing to balance China’s demands to utilize more water for its Far West economic & agricultural development with Kazakhstan’s own ecological & economic needs. As the article notes: “…Two of Kazakhstan’s main […]
Read more »Water – Energy Links in Central Asia
August 1st, 2008
A second excellent piece from the Brookings Insitution details Central Asia’s opportunities and challenges to make better and more efficient use of it water resources, both by investing in large water storage and hydropower capacity and by more efficient utilization of water, especially in irrigation use. As the article notes: “…A visit to the site […]
Read more »Serious Regional Water Crisis Looming: Central Asia
August 1st, 2008
A highly informative piece recently published by Brookings examines the current and coming water ‘crisis’ facing Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan, Mongolia and the Western most province of China, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The article details the complicated dance between the region’s countries, with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan upstream […]
Read more »Central Asia Water Woes
July 20th, 2008
Via New Eurasia, an interesting report (translated via Google Translator) that Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are having serious diagreements over water with Kazakhstan. As the article notes: “…according to agreements, Kazakhstan buys Kyrgyz electricity, and Kyrgyzstan … increases the amount of water in 150 cubic meters per second for Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan, for its part, undertakes to […]
Read more »Water Scarcity and Trans-Boundary Tensions In The Deserts of Central Asia
July 18th, 2008
Via The Guardian, an interesting look at the issue of water scarcity in the deserts of central Asia. As the article notes: “…Water is a precious resource in the desert lands of Central Asia, where only the Aral Sea and a few rivers must provide enough water for the region’s 60 million people. But while […]
Read more »Could Water Needs Unite Central Asian States Vs. Driving Them Apart?
June 29th, 2008
As reported by Window on Eurasia, most analysts see competition for water driving the five countries of Central Asia apart, possibly even leading to military conflicts among them. But a Kyrgyz ecologist argues that in fact both these countries and the international community should make access to water the basis for closer cooperation among them. […]
Read more »