Russia to Fund Completion of Krasnogorsky Hydrosystem on Irtysh River

The Russian federal government will fully fund the completion of the Krasnogorsky hydrosystem near Omsk on the transboundary Irtysh River. This infrastructure is intended to ensure a reliable water supply for Omsk – a city of over one million residents – and to stabilize water levels within the river. Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Alexander Kozlov announced the funding following a presidential directive.

Construction of the facility first began in 2011 – originally intended to coincide with the 300th anniversary of Omsk – but was later halted due to the bankruptcy of the first contractor. The initial phase of construction was valued at 4.6 billion rubles before the works were suspended and the existing structures abandoned.

In 2022, the company Mezhregionstroy assumed control of the construction site. The updated project has passed the necessary state expert reviews. Construction involves the dismantling of older structures that became unusable during the period of inactivity, with a planned completion date for the entire hydrosystem set for 2030.

The project involves international cooperation, as Russia and Kazakhstan are currently drafting a master plan for the management of the shared river basin. The launch of the hydrosystem will create conditions for stable river navigation between the two nations and is expected to facilitate water transit routes to China.