Regional Options for Addressing the Water, Energy and Food Nexus in Central Asia and the Aral Sea Basin

Abstract

This article explores the water, energy and food nexus in Central Asia as an avenue to seek regional solutions to common challenges. A benefit-sharing scheme was in place between the countries in the Central Asia in the Soviet Union era, but since independence unilateral action has been the norm. It is concluded that a regional integrative approach would be beneficial in the water, energy and food nexus. Collaborative options include exploring existing regional frameworks with a focus on additional investment in hydropower power generation, regional power market development, irrigation reforms, and addressing regional environmental public goods such as water flows and quality.

Essentials of Endorheic Basins and Lakes: A Review in the Context of Current and Future Water Resource Management and Mitigation Activities in Central Asia

“…This is precisely the case for CA, as water has always been a limited but vital resource and a source of tension and conflict in the area [101]. Probably nowhere else on the planet has the strong link between agriculture and water requirements led to a tragedy of such great proportions as in the Aral Sea [102]. However, in a recent advanced review devoted to water and food stocks in the 21st century, Marsily and Abarca-del-Rio [103] argue that the availability of arable land, not water resources, will limit food production.…”

“…Rising temperatures are particularly relevant for CA as the discharge of some major rivers has increased due to glacier mass losses (caused by increased melt) and led to a considerable increase of water flow to the Aral Sea basin over recent decades [102,106]. According to Bernauer and Siegfried [104] climate change will impact the CA region mainly through temperature effects on the snow and ice cover in the Tien Shan Mountains and while aridification of Central Asia in the short term is not probable, the seasonal distribution of water could change dramatically.…”

The Water-Energy-Food Nexus and the Transboundary Context: Insights from Large Asian Rivers

“…The Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers were seen as resources to be utilised to allow development, in what has been described as a "hydraulic mission" [68]. Unsustainably high water use, particularly for irrigation, has led to high water stress and resulting environmental consequences, most visibly on the Aral Sea [27,[69][70][71][72]. Today, key aspects and challenges of the nexus in Central Asia are linked to the historic infrastructural interdependences via water storages, dams and power grids, and high profile competition over the water resources [26][27][28]67] (Figure 3).…”

“…Meanwhile, upstream countries are highly dependent on hydropower production (Appendix A) and therefore defend their right to use the hydropower potential of the rivers, much opposed by the downstream countries that are dependent on reliable quantity and quality of water [70]. Instead of emptying the reservoirs in the summer for the irrigation of downstream cotton fields, as they used to do, the upstream riparians now have an interest in storing the water to use for hydroelectric power in the winter [71].…”

Water Security in the Syr Darya Basin

“…International literature on water security in the Syr Darya Basin often focuses on large transboundary infrastructure such as the Toktogul and Kayrakum reservoirs in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, respectively, as well as the planned new Kambarata 1 and 2 reservoirs in Kyrgyzstan. The prominent nature of the water-energy nexus in large water infrastructures, such as in the Syr Darya Basin, has also brought a focus on related energy security [12,13]. Hence, in the Syr Darya Basin, water and energy security focus mainly on the main river as well as its larger reservoirs.…”