TOPIC 'Water Usage' on Dec 05, 2008 (CET)
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Trying To Agree on Trans-Border Water Usage
It is a difficult process for countries, or states, to agree on the usage and regulations of water, especially when water can be limited in supply and demands are great. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan experience a lack of power from the hydroelectric plant in winter, while the Central Asian states of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan experience water shortages downstream during the summer months. The territories need to find a compromise that will work to benefit all concerned.
The water comes from the Syr Darya River and many solutions to the problem have met an impasse due to government disagreements. The United Nations (UN) has issued regulations on how best to handle these matters. The UN law specific to this scenario states that countries upstream of the water resources are allowed only to trade services that are associated with the water (i.e., storage and release). They cannot “sell” the water.
Kyrgyzstan, however, will not recognize the trans-border with Uzbekistan of the Syr Darya River. Therefore, Uzbekistan does not want to be a contributor to the construction of two power plants in Kyrgyzstan. The hydropower plants, labeled Kambarata-1 and Kambarata-2, are designed to increase water usage efficiency.
Uzbekistan has irrigation needs that are growing each summer and more water is required from the Toktogul Reservoir in Kyrgyzstan. This extra consumption takes the water level to a decreased amount that is not capable of generating enough electricity during colder times. If and when the two new hydropower plants are constructed, Kyrgyzstan would then be able to store plenty of water for Uzbekistan’s irrigation needs without limiting its own capacity. However, this would allow greater control over water being released to regions downstream.
Trans-Border water agreements are no easy task to complete, with many involved parties struggling for decades to find compromises and make concessions. Experience shows that tariffs for services on common water sources are the main ingredient for success. Once the tariffs can be agreed on, investors are much more willing to become involved in constructing new hydropower plants and dams. In the meantime, it is the citizens in the affected areas who suffer the consequences of irregular water and power usage.
Sherry Irvin
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
Technologie Park 13
33100 Paderborn
Germany
