Meeting of chiefs of water and energy authorities of the three countries under the chairmanship of Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov took place in Almaty Sunday.

The parties agreed on the parameters for further water and energy cooperation. Given the challenging situation at the Toktogul Reservoir, the parties decided to support each other with mutual power supplies and coordinate joint efforts to successfully navigate the heating season and prepare for the upcoming growing season.

"Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan confirmed their readiness to supply electricity to Kyrgyzstan during the autumn and winter. This will allow the Kyrgyz authorities to reduce its electricity generation in winter and accumulate water in the Toktogul Reservoir. The accumulated water will be sent to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan during the growing season to ensure stable irrigation of agricultural lands in the southern regions. Furthermore, an agreement was reached to take joint measures to reduce consumption and conserve energy in the region," the Ministry of Energy said in a statement.

Background: The Toktogul Reservoir is an artificial reservoir on the Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan's Jalal-Abad Region and a key energy and irrigation facility in Central Asia. It plays a key role in the country's hydropower sector, providing up to 80 percent of electricity and regulating flow for irrigation in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

The parties emphasized that they were exerting joint efforts in the spirit of good neighborliness and which were aimed at strengthening energy security and stability throughout Central Asia. The Uzbek minister also confirmed readiness to provide technical conditions for transit, supply, and balancing of the energy system.

Following the meeting, a trilateral MoM was signed legally establishing winter electricity supply volumes and water storage for the 2026 growing season.

Water security is becoming increasingly important for the region, stated the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the recent 7th Central Asia Summit in Tashkent. In particular, he proposed harmonizing the water strategies of the region's countries, including scaling up the most successful water conservation practices and suggested considering adopting a Central Asian framework convention on water management, in line with international standards.