At the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Askar Mamin, the concept of the draft Water Management Program of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2020-2030 was considered.

Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Magzum Mirzagaliev presented his report, which indicated that the annual surface water resources of Kazakhstan are about 100 cubic km, more than 44% of that are formed outside the country. About 67% of water consumption is accounted for by agriculture, 30% by industry, and the rest by household needs. By 2040, water consumption in Kazakhstan is expected to grow by 56%.

Kazakhstan’s Water Management Program for 2020-2030 aims to maintain water balance at 100 cubic km by 2030 by increasing additional surface water resources: building new reservoirs of 5-7 cubic km, water saving up to 5 cubic km, groundwater use up to 15 cubic km.

By the indicated period, it is planned to reduce water consumption per unit of GDP from 91.2 to 73.0 cubic meters per $1 thousand, build 26 new hydraulic structures, reconstruct 182 republican and 300 municipal hydraulic structures.

The document provides for the construction of new irrigation systems to increase irrigated land from 1.7 to 3 million ha, an increase in the length of the lined main and distribution channels from 3,423 to 19 thousand km.

The material and technical equipment of the basin inspections will be increased to 100% of the supply, and the forest cover of the catchment areas from 1 to 200 thousand ha.

Kazakhstan’s water management program for 2020-2030 will include ten main areas: international cooperation, updating the legal framework, institutional reform, modernization and reconstruction of the water management infrastructure, studying international best practices for creating a water market, digitalizing the water sector, implementing the Smart Water project, environmentally optimal use of water resources, training of water industry specialists with modern skills and implementation of important national water projects.

“Elbasy Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev and Head of State Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev set before us the task of increasing the efficiency of use and protection of the country's water resources. In this regard, the Concept of a Water Management Program has been developed. It meets our strategic goals and finds support in the Parliament. The concept was discussed with the participation of industry experts, deputies and members of the Nur Otan faction,” said Mamin, instructing to ensure high-quality development of the program.