Kazakhstan's bold moves to combat worsening water shortages fall short on expertise
Kazakhstan is stepping up efforts to tackle its severe water shortages with major institutional and technological changes. The government has launched a new ministry and university dedicated to water management, even as funding cuts hit existing research bodies. The country, which relies heavily on cross-border water sources, faces growing challenges in both expertise and infrastructure. A new Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has been created to oversee the nation's water policies. Alongside this, the Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation opened in Taraz, aiming to train specialists in a sector facing a projected shortfall of 2,000 experts over the next five years.
The changes come as Kazakhstan struggles with dwindling water resources. Around 54% of its surface water flows in from neighbouring countries, and since gaining independence, the nation has lost roughly 40% of its irrigated farmland. Despite these pressures, water research has been removed from the list of critical strategic studies linked to national security. To modernise management, a five-year roadmap for the AI-Based Integrated Water Resource Management (DeepBas) megaproject has been finalised. The initiative will develop an AI-driven spatiotemporal intelligence model to optimise water use. However, the Institute of Geography and Water Security, a key research body, has seen its funding cut by half, leading to the dismissal of over 40 experienced scientists.
The new ministry and university signal a push to address Kazakhstan's water crisis through education and policy. Yet the reduction in research funding and loss of specialists raise concerns about the country's ability to sustain long-term solutions. With AI-driven projects like DeepBas now in development, the success of these efforts will depend on balancing innovation with the retention of critical expertise.
