Central Asian Countries Approve Water Usage Volumes at 95th ICWC Meeting in Avaza
On October 7, the 95th meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) took place in the Avaza National Tourist Zone. The forum was chaired by Durdy Gendjiev, Head of the State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan, and attended by commission members: Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan; Shavkat Khamraev, Minister of Water Management of Uzbekistan; Daler Abdurazokzoda, Head of the Main Directorate for Water and Energy Policy and Scientific-Technical Development at the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan; as well as the heads of the "Amu Darya" and "Syr Darya" Basin Water Organizations and the IFAS Executive Committee.
The meeting's key practical outcome was the signing of a protocol approving water withdrawal limits and agreed-upon operating schedules for reservoir cascades in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins for the 2026–2027 non-growing season.
Reviewing the results of the past growing season, commission members noted that close interagency coordination made it possible to fully meet the water needs of agricultural lands while preserving the region's ecosystems.
The meeting in Avaza clearly demonstrated the transformation of regional water diplomacy: the parties are shifting from seasonal flow allocation toward the creation of an "infrastructure of trust" based on precise digital monitoring. Key areas of focus included the automation of gauging stations managed by the Amu Darya and Syr Darya Basin Water Organizations (BWOs) and the implementation of modern measurement systems. This process is supported by the World Bank’s CAWEC project—backed by $20 million in grant funding—which aims to digitize water accounting and prepare joint transboundary infrastructure projects.
Particular emphasis was placed on developing bilateral and multilateral cooperation to reduce river flow losses. Participants highlighted the positive impact of joint projects, including the rehabilitation of main drainage collectors, as well as the large-scale implementation of drip irrigation and the lining of canals with concrete.
The cumulative water savings achieved within the countries of the region reduce the strain on shared river basins, laying a solid foundation for implementing the "Decade of Practical Actions for the Rational Use of Water in Central Asia (2026–2036)," which was announced at the Consultative Meeting in Tashkent.
