Why is this important
The solution changes the balance in Central Asia, where water resources are critically important for agriculture and energy. For Uzbekistan, this may mean increased irrigation costs and the need for new agreements.
Kyrgyzstan seeks to monetize its resources and compensate for the costs of managing the flow.
What happened
- A new Water Code of Kyrgyzstan has been adopted in Kyrgyzstan, which comes into force on January 1, 2026;
- Water is officially recognized as a commodity, and payment will be charged for its use;
- Kyrgyzstan uses only 20% of the river’s flow, the rest goes to neighboring countries.
In September 2025, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed a protocol on regulating the water and energy balance until 2026:
- Kyrgyzstan discharges water from the Toktogul reservoir;
- In return, it receives electricity from its neighbors.
One of the key topics of Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Bishkek will be water negotiations.
What they say
Experts note that the countries in the upper reaches of rivers have long been demanding compensation for the use of the runoff. The new code formalizes these requirements and creates a precedent for water “markets” in the region.
Context
Such a system already operates in the oil and gas sector, but is being applied to water for the first time in Central Asia. Kazakhstan stated its fulfillment of its obligations under the current protocol and called on partners to “stability and mutual trust”.
