Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan discuss management of “Tajik Sea”

On August 4, representatives from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan met in the Tajik city of Gulistan to discuss the rational use of water resources in the Syrdarya River basin. The meeting was reported by the press service of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The event was attended by Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy Daler Juma, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Water Resources Shavkat Khamroev, and Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources Nurzhan Nurjigitov.

The parties discussed the implementation of a trilateral protocol regarding the operation of the "Tajik Sea" reservoir and outlined measures to improve water use efficiency in the region.

The ministers emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and sharing best practices to ensure water security across Central Asia.

Following the meeting, the delegation visited the “Tajik Sea” (“Bahri Tajik”) reservoir and toured the “Somgor-1” pumping station, located in the Bobojon Gafurov district.

For reference, the “Tajik Sea” is one of the largest reservoirs in Tajikistan. It is situated primarily in the Sughd region of Tajikistan, with a small portion extending into Uzbekistan’s Fergana region to the east. The reservoir was created by the construction of a dam and hydroelectric power station to regulate the Syrdarya River. Water began filling the reservoir in 1950.

Today, the “Tajik Sea” serves as a popular summer destination for fishing, swimming, and recreation. Several sanatoriums and guesthouses line its shores, hosting residents of the Sughd region, other parts of the country, and tourists.

It is worth noting that at a previous trilateral meeting held in Tashkent in May of this year, representatives of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan reached an agreement on water distribution along the Syrdarya River. That meeting concluded with the signing of a protocol on the operation of hydropower facilities during the growing season and the equitable distribution of water.