Along the Amu Darya River on the border between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan lies a major hydroelectric facility known as the Tuyamuyun Hydro Complex. This complex includes 30 key hydraulic structures and four interconnected reservoirs: the Channel Reservoir, Sultansanjar Reservoir, Kaparas Reservoir, and Koshbulak Reservoir. These are linked by a system of canals and gates. The complex primarily stores water during the winter and spring periods, releasing it for use during the growing season.
As part of the national “Uzbekistan-2030” development strategy, Uzbekistan plans to increase the storage capacity of the Tuyamuyun Hydro Complex. The project involves adding an extra 1 billion cubic meters of volume to this strategically important facility.
Preliminary estimates indicate that this expansion will significantly improve the reliability of water supply for irrigation across 1.2 million hectares of farmland and create a vital strategic reserve of fresh drinking water for the population.
Currently, Uzbekistan’s network of main and inter-farm irrigation canals totals 18,700 kilometers, but around 66% of these are still earthen channels, leading to substantial water losses due to infiltration.
The strategy includes a phased transition to concrete-lined canals. In the coming years, 13,100 kilometers (about 46% of the total network) will be lined with concrete to reduce evaporation and seepage.
In parallel with these infrastructure upgrades, Uzbekistan is focusing on land reclamation to improve soil health in agricultural areas. Plans include systematically reducing the area of salinized land to 1.7 million hectares. This will be achieved through large-scale reconstruction of existing drainage systems and the construction of new reclamation facilities.
Water scarcity is a critical issue in Central Asia, driven by climate change (including glacier melt), inefficient use, and aging infrastructure. According to recent FAO data cited in a UN report, 82% of all freshwater withdrawals in Central Asia go to agriculture. However, the region has shown positive trends in water management: total freshwater withdrawals decreased by 9% (from 123 billion cubic meters in 2015 to 112 billion cubic meters in 2022), and water stress levels fell from 76.8% to 70.2%.
///nCa, 6 January 2026