The water resources of the transboundary Irtysh River basin are becoming increasingly important for three countries. Rapid economic growth and a rising population in the basin significantly increase the demand for water. A new study by the Eurasian Development Bank titled “The Irtysh River Basin: Transboundary Challenges and Practical Solutions” presents the results of diagnostics and forecasts regarding the state of water resources in the basin, outlines the positions of the three countries, and suggests practical solutions, including investment strategies. Key proposals focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation, developing soft infrastructure, and establishing a multimodal transport corridor linking Russia, Kazakhstan, and China.
The Irtysh River is the longest transboundary tributary river in the world, stretching 4,248 km. Along with the Ob River, another major river, the Irtysh forms the longest water artery in Russia, the second longest in Asia, and the seventh longest in the world. The Irtysh flows through the territories of three countries: Kazakhstan, Russia, and China, making it particularly significant for each nation and closely intertwining their interests.
Irtysh River Basin Scheme
Source: EDB
In China, the water resources in the upper reaches of the Irtysh are essential for the development of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The population of XUAR has grown from 15.2 million in 1990 to 25.87 million in 2022, while GDP per capita has increased 28 times during the same period. The region continues to develop rapidly and is one of the most vulnerable to “water stress.” In the future, a significant increase in the needs of XUAR for water, food, and electricity is expected. Leading research institutions anticipate that water extraction could more than triple from the current 1.5–2.0 km³ to 7 km³ per year out of an average natural runoff of 8.3 km³.
In Kazakhstan, the water resources of the Irtysh and its tributaries support nearly 30% of the population. Approximately 45% of the country’s agricultural production is produced in the basin. The Irtysh cascade of hydropower plants generates 10% of the country's total electricity output ( 80% of hydropower ). The potential risks associated with water extraction by China are substantial. In this regard, Kazakhstan is enhancing cooperation with China and Russia in a bilateral format. Nationally, projects for the construction of new reservoirs, hydropower plants, and the widespread implementation of water-saving technologies are being developed.
For Russia, the active water management policies of the upstream countries – Kazakhstan and China – are of paramount importance. Excessive water extraction in China poses a risk of reducing the flow coming from Kazakhstan. The projected changes in the quantity and quality of water resources over the next decade present serious challenges to the socio-economic development of Omsk and the adjacent Omsk municipal district. These areas account for 80% of the total water resource extraction and 90% of the water used in the region. In years of low water flow, there is a risk of water resource shortages spreading throughout the river's catchment area.
The transboundary nature of the Irtysh necessitates strategic partnership and cooperation in the river basin among the three countries – China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Effective water resource management requires the development of practical forms of interaction that align with common interests. These should promote economic integration and address social and environmental issues in the basin.
First and foremost , it is proposed to expand bilateral intergovernmental cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia, as well as between Kazakhstan and China, with the implementation of key provisions of international conventions into national water legislation and intergovernmental agreements. Cooperation programs could include initiatives such as:
- ensuring international navigation on the Irtysh River and further along the Ob River;
- combating water pollution;
- regulating the safe use of water bodies;
- enhancing the efficiency and safety of water use during floods, low water periods, and droughts.
Subsequently, this approach will create the necessary legal framework and facilitate the signing of a trilateral agreement among the countries.
Secondly, within the framework of bilateral cooperation, it is crucial to focus on developing soft infrastructure. It is advisable to :
- create a system for international comprehensive monitoring - bilateral cooperation programs should be based on a unified and transparent river flow monitoring system, where data would be accessible to all parties;
- forming a coordinated system for training and retraining personnel would be beneficial;
- conducting interdisciplinary research at major institutions involving scientists from Kazakhstan, China, and Russia on the water resources of the transboundary Irtysh River basin.
Thirdly, coordinated operation of existing hydraulic structures ( hydropower plants, dams, reservoirs, irrigation canals, water supply systems, etc. ) and planning for future constructions deserve special attention. Projects aimed at ensuring stable water supply in the Irtysh River basin without compromising water resources in other countries are also a priority for implementation. Potential projects include:
- the construction of the second phase of the Shulbinsk Hydropower Plant in Kazakhstan;
- the construction of the Semipalatinsk Hydropower Plant in Kazakhstan;
- the reconstruction and modernization of the Irtysh-Karaganda canal (named after K. Satpayev) in Kazakhstan;
- the construction of the Krasnogorsk node near Omsk in Russia.
Fourthly, the creation of a full-fledged multimodal transport corridor “Russia — Kazakhstan — China” utilizing the shipping potential of the Ob-Irtysh basin is a strategic direction. The Ob and Irtysh rivers could serve as a link between the Northern Sea Route and the Silk Road, integrating Eurasian transport corridors into the global transport system. The new multimodal corridor will allow landlocked Central Asian countries and northwestern regions of China to access internal Russian regions and further to the Arctic Ocean.
This initiative is of interest to all countries in the Irtysh River basin and could serve as a basis for developing trilateral cooperation. An important condition for the comprehensive use of the water transport potential of the Irtysh corridor is achieving trilateral agreements ( China-Kazakhstan-Russia ) to regulate the water regime of the Irtysh during the navigation period and establish an international river authority for navigation. Such cooperation may facilitate the formation of intergovernmental mechanisms for coordinated management of the water resources of the Irtysh basin.
The report is based on research from leading institutions in the Republic of Kazakhstan (Institute of Geography and Water Security of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education) and the Russian Federation (Institute of Water and Ecological Problems of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences), strategic documents and concepts, available materials from bilateral meetings, as well as discussions with representatives of relevant government bodies.
Earlier, Transport Minister Marat Karabaev announced that in May 2025, Kazakhstan will hold a meeting with the transport ministers of China and Russia to discuss a new multimodal transit corridor between the countries through Kazakhstan. It will run along the Irtysh River and then through the Ob River to the northern seas. The projected volume of transportation is expected to be 2.5 million tons per year. The Ministry of Transport also published a project for the “Roadmap for the Comprehensive Development of River Transport on the Irtysh River.”