Uzbekistan Adopts Three-Year Water Management Program

Uzbekistan has approved a water management program for 2025–2028 aimed at modernising irrigation systems, improving efficiency and conserving resources. The plan includes the reconstruction of over 2,500 km of irrigation networks, replacing outdated pumping equipment with more efficient models and reducing areas affected by water shortages and high soil salinity.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev endorsed the proposals during a presentation on August 12. As a result, 460K hectares of land will be brought back into agricultural use. Water-saving technologies will be introduced on 1.4 mln hectares, including drip irrigation on nearly 300K hectares. The program also calls for automated water accounting and the management of twelve major hydraulic facilities.

The share of concrete canals is set to increase from 39% to 47%, reducing water losses. Authorities expect to save 10 bn cubic meters of water this year and up to 14 bn by 2028. A strong focus will be placed on digitalisation, with plans for a unified IT platform, a situation center, integration of sectoral programs, installation of pump meters, and the transition of major pumping stations to renewable energy sources.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports Uzbekistan plans to start pouring the first concrete for a small nuclear power plant in Jizzakh region no later than March 2026.