Irtysh River: cross-border challenges and environmental risks
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has published a study stating that the water resources of the transboundary Irtysh River are becoming increasingly important for China, Kazakhstan and Russia. The bank noted that high rates of economic growth and an increase in the population in the river basin significantly increase the demand for water.
A new study entitled “The Irtysh River Basin: Transboundary Challenges and practical solutions” presents the results of the analysis and forecast of the state of water resources in the basin, identifies the positions of the three countries and proposes practical solutions, including investment solutions. The main of them are aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, developing a “soft” infrastructure and creating a multimodal transport corridor “Russia-Kazakhstan-China”.
The Irtysh is the longest cross-border tributary river in the world, its length is 4248 kilometers. Together with the Ob, the Irtysh forms the longest waterway in Russia, the second longest in Asia and the seventh in the world. The Irtysh flows through the territories of Kazakhstan, Russia and China, which makes the river especially important for each of the countries, closely linking their interests.
In China, the water resources of the upper Irtysh River are necessary for the development of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The population of XUAR has increased from 15.2 million people in 1990 to 25.87 million people in 2022, and the GRP per capita has grown 28 times over the same period. The region continues to develop rapidly and is one of the most vulnerable to “water stress”. A multiple increase in the SUAR’s needs for water, food and electricity is expected. Leading research institutes predict that the withdrawal of water resources may increase more than threefold — from the current 1.5-2.0 cubic meters to 7 cubic meters per year out of 8.3 cubic meters of average annual natural runoff.
In Kazakhstan, the water resources of the Irtysh and its tributaries provide for the livelihoods of almost 30% of the population. About 45% of the country’s agricultural products are produced in the basin. The Irtysh cascade of the HPP provides 10% of the country’s total electricity generation. The possible risks associated with the withdrawal of runoff by China are significant. In this regard, Kazakhstan is strengthening bilateral cooperation with China and Russia. Projects for the construction of new reservoirs and hydroelectric power stations are being worked out at the national level, and the widespread introduction of water-saving technologies is envisaged.
For Russia, the active water management policy of the countries of the upper basin — Kazakhstan and China – is of decisive importance. In case of excessive water intake in China, there is a risk of reducing the flow coming from the territory of Kazakhstan. The projected change in the quantity and quality of water resources in the next decade poses serious challenges to socio-economic development for the city of Omsk and the Omsk Municipal District adjacent to it. They account for 80% of the total intake of water resources and 90% of the volume of used water in the region. In low-water years, there is a risk of spreading the shortage of water resources along the entire river alignment.
The transboundary nature of the Irtysh River necessitates strategic partnership and cooperation in the river basin between China, Kazakhstan and Russia. Effective management of water resources requires the development of practical forms of interaction that meet common interests and promote economic integration, resolution of social and, most importantly, environmental problems in the basin.
First of all, it is proposed to expand bilateral interstate cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia, as well as Kazakhstan and China, with the implementation of key provisions of international conventions in national water legislation and intergovernmental agreements. Cooperation programs could include such areas as ensuring international navigation on the Irtysh River and further along the Ob River, combating water pollution, regulating the safe use of water bodies, improving the efficiency and safety of water use during periods of floods, low water and drought.
It is assumed that such an approach will create the necessary legal framework and facilitate the signing of a trilateral agreement between the countries.
Secondly, within the framework of bilateral cooperation, it is already important to focus on the development of “soft” infrastructure. It is advisable to create an international integrated monitoring system — bilateral cooperation programs should be based on a unified and transparent system for monitoring river flow, where data would be available to all parties. It is also useful to form a coordinated system of training and retraining of personnel, as well as conducting interdisciplinary research on the basis of large institutes with the participation of scientists from Kazakhstan, China and Russia on the water resources of the transboundary basin of the Irtysh River.
Thirdly, the coordinated operation of existing hydraulic structures and the planning of future ones deserve special attention. Priority for implementation are also projects aimed at ensuring the stability of water supply in the Irtysh River basin without compromising water resources in other countries. Promising projects include the construction of the 2nd stage of the Shulba HPP in Kazakhstan, the construction of the Semipalatinsk HPP in Kazakhstan, the reconstruction and modernization of the Irtysh-Karaganda canal in Kazakhstan, as well as the construction of the Krasnogorsk junction near the city of Omsk in Russia.
Fourthly, the strategic direction is the creation of a full—fledged multimodal transport corridor “Russia — Kazakhstan – China” with the use of the navigable potential of the rivers of the Ob-Irtysh basin. The Ob and Irtysh Rivers can become a link between the Northern Sea Route and the Silk Road and integrate Eurasian transport corridors into the global transport system. The new multimodal corridor will allow the countries of Central Asia and the northwestern regions of China, which have no access to the sea, to reach the inner Russian regions and further to the Arctic Ocean.
This initiative is of interest to all countries of the Irtysh River basin and can become the basis for working out the basics of trilateral cooperation. An important condition for the integrated use of the water transport potential of the Irtysh corridor is the achievement of trilateral agreements on the regulation of the water regime of the Irtysh during the navigation period and the creation of an international river authority for navigation. Such cooperation can contribute to the formation of interstate mechanisms for coordinated management of water resources in the Irtysh basin.
The report is based on research by leading institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, strategic documents and concepts, available materials of bilateral meetings, as well as discussions with representatives of relevant government agencies.
It should be emphasized that the problem of transboundary rivers, and the Irtysh in particular, is not only economic and political, but also, above all, ecological. The growing anthropogenic impact on the river, the increase in water intake, pollution from industrial and agricultural runoff – all this poses a serious threat to the fragile ecosystem of the Irtysh. Further exploitation of the river without taking into account environmental consequences can lead to irreversible changes, degradation of the water body, loss of biodiversity and deterioration of the quality of life of millions of people dependent on this waterway. A comprehensive, scientifically based approach to the management of the Irtysh water resources is needed, with the priority of preserving its ecological well-being for future generations. This is the only way to avoid an environmental catastrophe and ensure sustainable development of the region.
