Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Ratify Joint Transboundary Water Agreement
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a law ratifying a transboundary water agreement between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The pact establishes a framework for the joint management, rational distribution and safe operation of shared water resources between the two Central Asian nations. Initially signed in Tashkent in November 2025, the document received approval from Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in March 2026. The Kazakh Senate cleared the legislation in June 2026, noting it creates a vital legal foundation to address the region’s growing water deficit.
Under the new legislation, the two governments will establish an intergovernmental commission to oversee shared rivers, canals, reservoirs and related hydro-technical facilities. Both countries also committed to improving data exchange and operational coordination.
The agreement primarily targets the Syr Darya river. As a major regional artery, it is critical for agriculture, civilian water supplies, hydroelectric power generation and ecosystem maintenance.
Effective management requires close bilateral coordination on water accumulation and discharge volumes to mitigate the severe impacts of seasonal floods and droughts. Key infrastructure explicitly governed by the pact includes the riverbed itself, associated irrigation networks and Kazakhstan’s Shardara Reservoir.
