Vice Ministers of Water Resources and Irrigation Bolat Bekniyaz and Yerbolat Ibraikhanov spoke about the work done throughout the year to improve the regulatory and legal framework of the water sector, build new reservoirs, attract investment, improve the skills of industry specialists, and preserve the Aral and Balkhash Seas, and summed up the results for 2024.

The main document of 2024 - a draft of the new Water Code - has been developed. This document, in accordance with best international practices, includes legal mechanisms that pave the way for sustainable economic development through ecosystem protection, climate change adaptation, and rational management of water resources. For example, the new Water Code introduced the concept of "water security" for the first time. It includes protecting the population and economy from the risks of water shortages and pollution of water bodies. Each article of the Code is aimed at saving water resources.

"Our ministry has completely restored the country's water policy in one year. Three main resources are needed to implement the new water policy. First of all, the administrative resource is our newly established ministry. The second is the law. It is the draft of the new Water Code developed by our ministry. The third resource is funds. In this area, the ministry has also reached important agreements this year on attracting investment in the country's water sector," said First Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Bolat Bekniyaz.

On the instructions of the President, the ministry has developed a Comprehensive Plan for the Construction and Rehabilitation of Water Facilities until 2028. The plan provides for the construction of 42 new reservoirs, the reconstruction of 37 reservoirs and more than 14 thousand kilometers of irrigation canals.

"The newly constructed reservoirs will perform several functions. First of all, they will collect water for use in agriculture. Second, they will protect against floods. Third, they will allow the development of tourism, fisheries and other small and medium-sized businesses," said Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Yerbolat Ibraikhanov.

For example, it is planned to build 3 new reservoirs in Zhambyl region. This will allow reducing dependence on water resources of neighboring countries by 25 percent during the irrigation period. Today, the ministry is actively negotiating with the Islamic Development Bank and Chinese investors on the construction of water management facilities. 

This year, Kazakhstan and France signed an agreement on cooperation in the conservation of Lake Balkhash within the framework of the One Water Summit. The tripartite agreement is aimed at sustainable water management and research in the Lake Balkhash basin. The document provides for measuring and analyzing the state of water, modeling climate and anthropogenic impacts, as well as forecasting the water balance until 2040.

It should be noted that since the beginning of the year, 15.4 billion cubic meters of water have been sent to Lake Balkhash and 17 billion cubic meters to the Caspian Sea. Meanwhile, 2.5 billion cubic meters of water have been sent to the Aral Sea this year. In addition to the North Aral Sea, water has also been sent to small lakes near the sea.

Next year, the Ministry will begin the reconstruction of the Kanysh Satpayev Canal, which has no equal in the world. Today, a Roadmap for the modernization of the complex has been developed. In the next 4 years, the canal's pumping units and electrical equipment will be updated.

In addition, the department is also working to return abandoned reservoirs to the state, conduct a multi-factor inspection of privately owned reservoirs, and increase the responsibility of their owners.

This year, the average salary of water industry specialists increased by 25 percent. The ministry intends to continue working in this direction next year. 

Next year, water industry specialists will study in the USA and Australia under the "Bolashak" program. At the initiative of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, this year, such educational programs as "Hydrogeology" and "Water Resources" were added to the "Bolashak" program. As a result, Kazakhstanis have the opportunity to study abroad in these specialties.

This year, Dutch experts held 3 training seminars on flood risk management in the cities of Astana and Aktobe. As a result, more than 50 Kazakhstani specialists involved in flood control have improved their skills.

Next year, 105 specialists from the Kazsuchar institution will undergo advanced training courses in China. The Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov reached a relevant agreement during a meeting with representatives of the Chinese company Power China in Kazakhstan.

More:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2XrAAcVdvI 

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/water/press/news/details/912531