Water Resources Management in Central Asia

Water resources management in Central Asia: 
security implications and prospects for regional 
cooperation
Anar Khamzayeva
PhD Candidate at LUISS “Guido Carli” University (Rome, Italy)
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to give a general overview of the security implications 
and regional cooperation initiatives on water resources management in Central Asia. 
The text begins by examining the legal framework for inter-state relations on water 
resources management in the region, and then reviews the water management system 
established by the USSR between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and 
Turkmenistan, and its implementation for tackling the current conflicts. The post-
1991 international agreements are also analysed, together with long-term mechanisms 
for water-sharing based on inter-state dialogue.
The article also reviews some of the projected international water infrastructure and 
management plans with security implications in the region, such as: the Golden 
Century Lake in the Kara-Kum desert in Turkmenistan; The Rogun and Sangtuda 
dam and hydroplant projects in Tajikistan; the Kambarata hyproplant projects in 
Kyrgyzstan; the projected increase of water use demand from the Amu-Darya by 
Afghanistan, and the plan for diverting the Irtych and Ob rivers to the Aral Sea in 
Kazakhstan.
Prospects for regional cooperation include: the establishing of legal mechanisms 
on water resources management in Central Asia based on international water law 
principles, assistance and support from international agencies and donors, and an 
integrated basic social, economic and environmental approach.
The author concludes by acknowledging that water interdependence is a factor of 
major concern in Central Asia, and that concerted action by all regional states should 
be the way to solve water management problems.

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Anar Khamzayeva
10
Documentos CIDOB, Asia
Water resources management in Central Asia