Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The regularity of high-level visits demonstrates the strong state of bilateral relations. Our countries are developing cooperation in trade and economic relations, petrochemicals, transport communications, agriculture, culture, tourism, as well as in the field of water management.

Currently, water from the Amu Darya is supplied to Surkhandarya Region through the “Amu-Zang” canal, to Kashkadarya Region through the cascade of pumping stations of the Karshi Main Canal, and to Bukhara Region via the Amu-Bukhara Machine Canal pumping station. In turn, water is delivered to Turkmenistan through the Karshi Main Canal. Six pumping stations of the Karshi Main Canal cascade are located on Turkmen territory, with Uzbek water specialists crossing the border to operate them.

Turkmenistan also receives water from the Amu Darya through the Karakum and other canals, as well as through small pumping stations within its territory.

The Tuyamuyun Reservoir, which supplies water to Khorezm Region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan, as well as to Dashoguz Velayat in Turkmenistan, is located in the border area between the two countries. Water released from the reservoir is delivered through the “Turkmandarya” and “Chapqirqoq” main canals, as well as through the lower section of the Tuyamuyun hydraulic complex and along the left bank of the Amu Darya via the “Khonyep,” “Jumaboy Soqa,” “Kilichniyazboy,” and “Kipchok-Bozsu” canals into Dashoguz region.

On May 26, 2021, in Ashgabat, the Governments of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan signed agreements on the establishment of an Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Water Management, as well as on the project to construct an anti-filtration wall at the Sultan Sanjar dam of the Tuyamuyun hydraulic complex.

To date, four meetings of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Water Management have been held, and the next session is scheduled to take place in 2025 in Tashkent.

The implementation of the project to build the anti-filtration wall at the Sultan Sanjar dam of the Tuyamuyun hydraulic complex will allow for the additional accumulation of about 1 billion cubic meters of water, improve the water supply of approximately 1.2 million hectares of agricultural land, and increase guaranteed drinking water reserves. In addition, the risk of floods will be reduced, and opportunities for additional water storage will increase.

Within the framework of the bilateral Joint Commission, issues regarding the inspection of Uzbekistan’s water management facilities located on Turkmen territory, as well as the restoration of control points that were suspended in 2019 due to COVID-19 and serve water management facilities, have been positively addressed for the personnel working at these sites.

On October 5, 2021, the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of water-saving technologies.

In addition, agreements were reached on inspecting water intake points of the Karshi Main Canal and establishing cooperation between the Turkmen State Scientific and Production Institute of Water Management “Turkmensuvilimtaslama” and the Institute of Irrigation and Water Problems of the Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan.

Within the framework of bilateral cooperation, in 2025, reconstruction projects (Phase II) of the “Ozyorny” and “Daryolik” main collectors located in Turkmenistan were implemented. As these projects positively impacted the improvement of the reclamation state of irrigated lands in both countries, they are planned to continue in 2026.

Cooperation has also been established in training personnel for Turkmenistan’s water management sector. Currently, nearly 2,000 Turkmen students are studying at the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, a National Research University.

Furthermore, about 700 Turkmen citizens work alongside Uzbek specialists in the administrations operating the Karshi Main Canal and the Amu-Bukhara Machine Canal.

Water is a vital resource determining the development of countries and the well-being of peoples. By jointly utilizing transboundary river resources, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan strive to reach new heights of cooperation and mutual development.

Rustam Karshiev,
Deputy Minister of Water Resources
of the Republic of Uzbekistan