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Central Asia’s Looming Conflict Over Water: The Upriver Countries
November 12th, 2012
Via STRATFOR (subscription required), a detailed look at how two of Central Asia’s poorest countries, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, are attempting to leverage one of their few geographic advantages — control over the headwaters of two major regional rivers — to build new hydropower dams. The proposed dams, which were originally drawn up by the Soviet […]
Read more »Water In Central Asia: Past, Present, And Future
October 17th, 2012
Via Central Asia Notes, an interesting look at Central Asia’s water issues: Water management in Central Asia: state and impact Since ancient times, water has been an important resource in Central Asia. It has been used by Soviet and now independent states for different purposes. At present, all countries of the region continue using water […]
Read more »Water wars In Central Asia: Dammed If They Do
October 10th, 2012
Via The Economist, a report on how spats over control of water roil an already unstable Central Asia region: TAJIKISTAN’S president, Emomali Rakhmon, likes things big. He has built the world’s tallest flagpole. Last year he opened the region’s largest library (with few books in it so far). But one gigantic project is proving contentious […]
Read more »Russian Control of Central Asian Dams “Risks Full Conflict With Uzbekistan”
September 28th, 2012
Via Ooska News, a look at Central Asian water tensions: Russia’s support for upstream Kyrgyzstan in its dispute with downstream Uzbekistan over water resources in Central Asia will strain Russian-Uzbek relations, according to an Uzbek expert. During a visit to the region last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered support to Kyrgyzstan in its conflict […]
Read more »Central Asia: A Dam Debacle
March 2nd, 2012
Courtesy of China Dialogue, a insightful look at Central Asia’s water predicament where grand engineering schemes have failed to address the political problems of water management and, as climate change dries up the rivers, regional tensions will likely escalate. As the article notes: The Toktogul Dam in Kyrgyzstan is an imposing structure. The dam guards […]
Read more »Kyrgyzstan’s Gold Mine Could Exacerbate Central Asian Water Woes
February 15th, 2012
Via EurasiaNet.org, an interesting article on the impact that a Kyrgyz gold mine may have upon regional water supplies: Two new studies say that Kumtor, Kyrgyzstan’s largest gold mine, as well as a major government revenue source, routinely ignores national environmental legislation and restricts access to independent auditors. The mine’s operations could have a far-reaching, […]
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