Only a quarter of the waste water resources of Kyrgyzstan remain in the country. The main part of the total river flow in Kyrgyzstan (75%) is directed to neighboring countries, Minister of Nature of Kyrgyzstan Melis Turgunbaev said at the Bishkek Water Forum, which was held for the first time in Kyrgyzstan.
He noted that the long-term average annual flow of rivers in Kyrgyzstan is 48.7 cubic kilometers. He added that according to data of the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan for 2020, the total volume of water use amounted to 5.2 billion cubic meters, which is 25% of the total flow.
“At the same time, the main part of water flows, 75%, enters the territory of neighboring states, such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China,” Turgunbaev concluded.
Kyrgyzstan has rich water resources and has the prerequisites for hydropower to become a strategic sector of the country.
In terms of the volume of water resources formed on the territory of the country, Kyrgyzstan ranks third among the CIS countries. There are 252 large and medium-sized rivers in Kyrgyzstan, the potential of which is estimated at 18.5 million kW of power and more than 140-160 billion kWh of electricity. The rivers Naryn, Sary-Jaz, Kokomeren, Chatkal, Tar, Chu, Kara-Darya and Chon-Naryn have large reserves of hydropower resources.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
May 31, 2023