IWMI is leading Hydro4U project activities related to accountability and benefits sharing in the context of the Water-Food-Energy-Climate (WFEC) nexus in Central Asia. While several important milestones have already been achieved, our ongoing activity related to the co-development of integrated cross-border policies for sustainable benefits sharing at tributary level in Central Asia may be of interest to a very broad audience.

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, much focus in Central Asia has been placed on developing and strengthening institutional setup at the full basin level. Small tributaries, however, key places for introducing small hydropower (SHP) solutions, continue to receive less attention. Through stakeholder interviews and review of literature, IWMI researchers have determined that only a handful of small transboundary tributaries (STTs) are covered by cross-border agreements while the majority are not. Moreover, even stakeholders in STTs that are covered by agreements think that the agreements can be strengthened or updated. The reason for that being that existing STT level agreements are not sufficient to address changing water supply and demand dynamics between the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan. For instance, Shakhimardansai which is selected as one of the demonstration sites under Hydro4U is covered by a Soviet-era agreement: Protocol on decadal water allocation in Sokh, Shakhimardan, and Isfayram between the Uzbek and Kyrgyz SSR from June 14, 1981, which specifies decadal, percentage-based water allocation for the vegetation period and is considered a follow up to the Protocol on the Interstate Allocation of Ferghana Valley’s Small Rivers’ Flows from the 1980. Both agreements have a narrow scope and are no longer adequate to capture increasing uncertainty of water supply and demand, making new interventions, such as the introduction of SHPs, risky.

To develop a template or a checklist that can help stakeholders to implement sound legal practices in future consultations on transboundary water agreements in Central Asia, IWMI is analyzing climate resilience of legal frameworks covering STTs while also assessing resilience of select number of STTs, like Shakhimardansai, to future climate change-induced water variability. The methods and results of this activity are discussed with key stakeholders to gather their feedback. This collaborative approach ensures that the resulting template or a checklist will be both practical and resilient.

Picture: Meeting and discussing water management challenges in Ferghana Valley with a representative from the Syrdarya-Sokh Basin Irrigation System Authority.
Photo credit: Bunyod Holmatov (IWMI).

Author: Bunyod Holmatov (IWMI)

Website: International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

27th August 2024

Central Asia holds immense potential for hydropower generation, especially in upstream regions, but outdated infrastructure and limited new developments pose significant challenges, exacerbated by water scarcity and climate change. The Hydro4U project addresses these issues by developing innovative, climate-resilient small hydropower (SHP) technologies optimized for cost-effective and simple implementation in remote areas, while maintaining EU quality and environmental standards. The project partners also introduce advanced planning and assessment tools, engage local communities to enhance socio-economic benefits, and foster partnerships with local companies. This aims to result in sustainable hydropower development and future commercial opportunities in the Central Asian market.

The EU-funded Hydro4U project is now entering the second half of its total project duration and can look back on successful progress phases for preparation and implementation.

During the first 18 months of the project (06/2021-11/2022), Hydro4U partners focused on data collection and building partnerships with key stakeholders in Central Asia. A comprehensive database was created to support future tasks, and the two innovative small hydropower solutions were developed:

• Francis Container Power Solution (FCPS): to be demonstrated at the Shakimardan Enclave (Uzbekistan) in collaboration with state utility Uzbekgidroenergo.
• Hydroshaft Power Solution (HSPS): to be demonstrated in At-Bashy, Kyrgyzstan, in partnership with the private company Orion LLC.

Additionally, tools for sustainable hydropower planning and a monitoring system for the water-energy-food-climate nexus were introduced. Efforts were also made to raise public awareness and prepare for the commercialization of the developed technologies.

In the second project period (12/2022-05/2024), the consortium continued to advance site-specific designs and demonstration activities and shared feasibility studies and design plans with local investors and contractors. The procurement and manufacturing and delivery of the equipment of the Francis Container plant in Shakimardan, Uzbekistan, has already led to completion in August 2024 and commissioning is scheduled for the near future.

For the second demo-site, the Hydroshaft Power Solution in Kyrgyzstan, the delivery of the equipment is scheduled for October 2024.

Key achievements in this phase of the project included the identification of sustainable hydropower potential, the development of a transboundary water accounting system and the promotion of replication strategies. Another focus was on capacity building, market analysis and business model development, supported by dissemination and communication activities.

 The current work focusses on the completion and commissioning of the Francis Container Power solution and the implementation of the At-Bashy Hydroshaft Power Solution, but furthermore additional planning sites will be selected. Partners will elaborate two further feasibility studies at these sites to enable replication of our innovative technologies.

Available illustration © SJE. Click on the link or on the QR code to get the overview of the construction works in Shakimardan: