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By Rehan Khan
ISLAMABAD, August 13 (APP):Uzbekistan is setting a regional benchmark in water resource management, with ambitious targets to offset climate-induced shortages through large-scale conservation, infrastructure upgrades and digital innovation.
Recalling concerns raised a decade ago by international experts over the impact of climate change, reduced rainfall and melting glaciers on Central Asia’s water supply, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Water Management, Shavkat Khamrayev, said projections had warned of a 5 percent drop in water resources by 2025 and 10 percent by 2030.
“President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has set a crucial task – to ensure water access for the population and compensate for deficits caused by climate change,” Khamrayev said.
Thanks to a series of reforms, the country saved 7 billion cubic meters of water in 2023 and 8 billion in 2024, with 10 billion projected for 2025 – matching earlier shortage forecasts. By 2030, annual savings are expected to reach 15 billion cubic meters.
Infrastructure projects have already delivered visible change in cities such as Nukus and Gulistan, where canal lining, drainage systems, and vertical wells have lowered groundwater levels, eliminated flooding threats, and improved irrigation. Similar projects in Urgench, Naryn, and across multiple regions — backed by financing from the Islamic Development Bank, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank — have improved water flow efficiency and reduced reliance on costly pumping stations.
With natural channels losing an estimated 14 billion cubic meters of water annually, 2024 was declared a “breakthrough year” for canal lining. The state allocated 676.7 billion soums to reconstruct 555 km of canals, while farms and clusters rehabilitated 13,500 km of internal irrigation networks.
Over the past seven years, water-saving technologies such as drip irrigation have been deployed across nearly half of Uzbekistan’s 4.3 million hectares of irrigated land. Local manufacturing of equipment – which expanded from just three producers in 2019 to over 60 today – has cut costs and ensured maintenance support.
Electricity consumption in the water sector has fallen from 8.3 billion kWh in 2017 to 6.5 billion in 2024, even as major pumping stations were modernized. In 2025, the government will prioritize upgrading medium and small pumps to further reduce costs.
Uzbekistan has embraced digitalization as a cornerstone of transparency and efficiency. Over 13,000 water-gauging stations now operate under the “Smart Water” system, groundwater is monitored via 10,296 reclamation wells, and nearly 1,750 pumping stations are equipped with automated water consumption controls.
Under the President’s “From Poverty to Prosperity” initiative, 3.2 trillion soums have been allocated to improve irrigation, electricity, internet access, roads, and other infrastructure in 1,000 underdeveloped mahallas. In 2025, 1,882 km of irrigation networks, 380 km of pipelines, and 818 wells will be completed, improving water supply for 467,000 households.
Minister Khamrayev said Uzbekistan’s vision extends beyond national borders. “We call for united efforts to launch a Regional Program for the Introduction of Water-Saving Technologies in Central Asia,” he stated, noting that sustainable water management is vital for regional peace, prosperity, and food security.