Over the past two years, investments in Kazakhstan's water sector have reached approximately 677 billion tenge, a 79% increase compared to the previous two-year period, reports infohub.kz.
For comparison, in 2022-2023, 377.9 billion tenge were attracted for water management development. Thus, the increase amounted to nearly 300 billion tenge.
Funds are primarily directed towards the construction and modernization of water infrastructure: reservoirs, canals, hydraulic structures, and other facilities that are crucial for water supply to the population and agriculture.
The ministry expects that these investments will help upgrade existing infrastructure, create new capacities for water storage and distribution, reduce losses, and improve the reliability of water supply.
Among the projects underway is the construction of three reservoirs in the Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan, and Kyzylorda regions, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank. With the support of the Asian Development Bank, the construction of the Yesil counter-regulator in the Akmola region is also planned.
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov noted that international cooperation in this area goes beyond financing.
“Investments are attracted for the development of water infrastructure—construction, reconstruction, and modernization of reservoirs, canals, and other structures. At the same time, international cooperation is not limited to financial support. It also involves the introduction of modern technologies, digitalization of the sector, strengthening human and scientific potential, and exchange of best practices,” said Nurzhigitov.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that 226.5 billion tenge from repatriated assets were allocated to 267 water supply projects. The funds were used, among other things, for the construction and modernization of networks and other communal infrastructure in the regions.