DIALOG: WATER—ENERGY—CLIMATE
A Round Table on “Dialog: Water-Energy-Climate” was held in ICWC Training Center on January 12-13, 2004, at which representatives from water and energy authorities and organizations of Central Asian states as well as from regional and national scientific institutes took part.
First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan, Head of Water Resources Central Board A.A. Jalalov told about peculiarities of water resources management in Uzbekistan. Estimating the reforms in agriculture of the republic positively, he noted that a problem related to the selection of optimum farm size and connection of farms with water users had arisen from the formation of numerous private farms instead of the former collective farms. WUAs were and are being set up in the republic to solve the tasks of water supply to such a great number of water users. Keeping in mind that most of agricultural production falls on irrigated farming, the issue of guaranteed water supply remains as task No.1. As a result of the recent reforms in water sector of the country, the transfer to basin management principle obtained the recognition of the government, basin water systems authorities were founded. Based on South Ferghana, Big Ferghana and North Ferghana canals, Ferghana Main Canal Systems Authority with united dispatch centers was established. Of 250 water-governing organizations in the republic, only 72 remained consequently. Pumping stations passed into the jurisdiction of these basin authorities. Reclamation services ceased to be subordinate to the oblasts and are subordinate only to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan as hydrogeologic reclamation expeditions. Also, it was noted that a lack of trained specialists had been observed in water sector of the republic.
Minister of Reclamation and Water Resources of Tajikistan A.A. Nazyrov noted that water sector of Tajikistan experienced several problems, related to lack of funds. For he years of civil war many waterworks facilities were destroyed. Today several programs for restoring these objects are being implemented with the support of donors. The base for the maintenance of water sector is introduction of water charges for water users, but complication is that 42% of total agricultural lands are irrigated by pumping stations, and water users are in large debt for used water – US$27 million. The ministry, in its turn, owes power sector $12 million. By now, the ministry has achieved 57% of overall debts be paid off by water users, and hopes to increase this figure to 90% for 3-4 years. Water supply has reduced by 30% through the introduction of water charges. At the same time, the ministry is trying to increase state subsidies. Now inputs into water supply amount to $35/ha, of which $10 are paid by water user, the remaining $25 – by the government. WUAs started to develop in Tajikistan according to the experience of “IWRM-Ferghana” Project. In conclusion, the minister informed the participants of the round table about technical condition of Kayrakum reservoir.
Chair of the Committee for Water Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan A.D. Ryabtsev informed the round table participants about the situation in water sector of Kazakhstan. In the republic, the privatization of agricultural lands was carried out, according to which water objects at rayon level are being privatized. Large water objects at oblast level remain at the disposal of the government in order to ensure operation stability. A tendency to enlarge farms exist, reclamation condominiums are being formed for joint operation of shared facilities. There are 3 types of ownership water objects: governmental, which includes large interstate and state systems and constructions, communal and municipal budgets and private.
8 basin- and 15 republican water enterprises were set up in the republic in the recent years. Reforms in water sector also provides for gradual involvement of the public. Transfer of water resources management from state organizations to public ones should be implemented where the public is ready for changes and has certain skills in this field. Based on the above-mentioned, it is necessary to draw a special attention to the preparation of specialists. The government allocates enough means for water sector – US$20 million per year.
For the past years a number of new problems have arisen, and some of the existing problems that require searching even non-traditional approaches for settling them have become more acute.
The participants of the meeting discussed an issue on the arisen situation on the Syrdarya river. Independent actions, taken by the countries without approval of the neighbors, lead to unforeseen situations on the river.
Actions of Kyrgyzstan, aimed at transition of Toktogul reservoir from irrigation regime to power regime, resulted in radical change in river hydrology. Chardarya reservoir inflow and outflow in winter never exceeded respectively 800 m3/sec and 420 m3/sec. This year inflow equals 1560 m3/sec, outflow is 750 m3/sec plus outflow from Kyzylkum canal is 50 m3/sec, altogether is 810 m3/sec.
The Agreement of 1998 is intended for average water years. The experience of the last years showed that ICWC is powerless in extreme cases. For fundamental settlement, it is necessary to develop long-term strategies for water and power resources use.
There is a need for creating an institutional mechanism for water and energy consortium to promote this regional institute in the future. Seven years have lasted since an idea of creating a consortium being discussed. For these years the middle- and downstream countries started to grow their potentials in water resources conservation. The countries spend considerable means for these purposes, while they can solve the problem of water shortage in the vegetation period through dialog and economic instruments. The necessity of creating it was once more emphasized in joint communique of the Heads of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan dated October 5, 2002, Dushanbe, so that it could place this problem in the category of merely economic problems.
By its nature, water and energy consortium is an economic mechanism, which could ensure a coherent regime of reservoir releases through prices and other financial and legal instruments, operating with fuel and energy resources, placed at its disposal, and using ICWC water intake limits as restraints. However, owing to a number of reasons the issue concerning the formation of a consortium has not been still settled.
Arnasay reservoir, constructed by Uzbekistan for protecting its territories and using winter flows, caused additional complications in already complicated water situation in the Syrdarya downstream reaches. Unclear definition of obligations of the countries in the basin also accompanied the aggravation of the situation. Further passivity and delay in decision making can lead to catastrophes such as floods or droughts.
A.G. Zyryanov said that it was necessary to use the proposal of the Asian Development Bank on financing activities aimed at reviewing the agreement of 1998 and organize a real joint activity in this direction. Information on growing cyclicity owing to climate change deserves close attention, and regular alternation of low and high water availability will aggravate tension in the basin.
E. Abitayev: “Winter releases this year have caused danger in the area of Chardarya reservoir, this danger can concern Toktogul reservoir too. It is necessary to review the agreement of 1998 so as it would take the fluctuations of low and high water years into account and establish precise regulation and management rules for different water availability years.
The participants of the meeting noted that there was a necessity to apply the principles of international conventions and agreements in view of regional peculiarities. The application of the latter will certainly contribute to positive achievements in solving complicated joint water use issues. It was also stated that Kazakhstan had already taken positive steps in this field, for example, the republic had joined to the UN Convention on “Protection and Use of Transboundary Waterways and Lakes”.
Two years ago BVO “Syrdarya” and SIC ICWC prepared the draft agreement on Syrdarya river water resources management and use. This agreement provides for the establishment of water allocation limits according to flow volume (average, maximum and minimum). Referring to more successful framework agreements accepted with regard to other rivers in the world (Rhine, Danube), it is also necessary to provide for the requirements to water salinity and quality in the framework agreement on the Syrdarya river.
The transition of the economies of Central Asian countries to market relations requires applying the laws of market economy, thereby prices of water use should vary depending on time and place of their use. The agreements demand from the parties be open and provide all the parties with access to information. Taking into account the role and positiveness of developing joint solutions, the participants stated the necessity of holding a series of round tables at top level.
In conclusion, the round table participants worked out the following recommendations:
- to create a working group for developing the rules for managing the Syrdarya river under various water availability conditions, especially under conditions of low water availability and catastrophic discharge bypass;
- to organize activity on completing the development of the provisions in the Agreement of 1998 in view of the given proposals;
- to renew the discussion of the proposed provisions on a water and energy consortium as a financial organ of energy exchange taking into account that the price of 1 kWh of electric energy on Central Asian market varies from 1.2 to 1.5 cent;
- to continue activity with regard to the agreements on ecological rules and compensation for damage;
- it is expedient to stipulate the transfer of water discharges, fixed in release schedule, from country to country in the Syrdarya river management rules, and also work out precise recommendations for water salinity and other pollutants.
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