A new initiative to establish a dedicated fund for the preservation of the Ili-Balkhash basin and Lake Balkhash’s ecosystem was announced during a seminar held at the Central Asian Institute for Environmental Research (CAIER) in Almaty.
The event, titled “Development of the Master Plan for the Preservation of Lake Balkhash Ecosystem,” brought together representatives from Kazakhmys Corporation, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI), international organizations, the French Consulate General in Almaty, as well as scientists and experts.
According to Saken Shayakhmetov, Deputy Chairman of Kazakhmys for Sustainable Development and Communications, the seminar successfully fostered a shared understanding among stakeholders on next steps and responsibilities.
A joint roadmap will now be developed by Kazakhmys and the MWRI for implementing the Master Plan, which includes selecting a pool of actionable projects. The roadmap will cover key areas such as assessing the quality of surface and groundwater in the basin, launching a digital platform for real-time lake monitoring, and automating hydraulic infrastructure.
As part of this strategy, Kazakhmys has committed to creating a dedicated fund to support initiatives aimed at preserving water resources, biodiversity, and ecosystems in the region. The fund will operate alongside the Ministry, drawing in experts and identifying impactful projects for implementation across the company’s regions of operation.
First Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Bolat Bekniyaz noted that for too long, Lake Balkhash issues were tackled in isolation. The new Master Plan aims to provide a unified, multi-sectoral strategy for sustainable water resource management, balancing ecological, economic, and societal interests.
The initiative is also supported by French partners, including the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM), who are currently collecting field data and plan to conduct on-site inspections of wells, hydrological posts, and irrigated lands in the lake basin.
