On October 7, the 95th meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) was held in Turkmenbashi (at the Avaza National Tourist Zone), with the participation of the heads of water management agencies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, Asiaplus.tj reported.
Following the meeting, the parties summarized water resource use during the 2026 growing season and approved water withdrawal limits, as well as projected operating modes for the reservoir cascades in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins for the 2026–2027 non-growing season. The Amu Darya and Syr Darya basin organizations prepared draft water accumulation and discharge schedules. Participants also discussed the implementation of digital flow metering technologies, the promotion of the ASBP-4 program, and the adaptation of the region's agricultural and energy sector to climate change.
The agreement on water withdrawal limits at the 95th ICWC meeting demonstrates the high level of institutional coordination among Central Asian countries ahead of the autumn-winter season.
- Balancing the Water-Energy Ring: Synchronizing the operation of the Toktogul and Nurek reservoirs in upstream countries (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) with releases for downstream countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan) minimizes the risk of winter energy shortages and lays the foundation for the next irrigation season.
- Response to Climate Challenges: In the face of increasing low water levels and flow volatility in transboundary rivers, the transition to unified digital metering and strict interstate limits is becoming the only tool for preventing local water conflicts.
- Regional Institutionalization: Regular work by the ICWC, in conjunction with the IFAS, confirms that collective management of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins remains the foundation of economic sustainability and environmental security for all of Central Asia.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 8, 2026