On 21 August 2026, a roundtable discussion was held in Astana to review the Concept for the Integrated Use and Management of Groundwater Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2027-2040.
The event was initiated by the National Hydrogeological Service “Kazhydrogeology” and supported by the European Union project ‘EU for Sustainable Central Asia: Joint Action and Coordination on Water, Energy and Climate Change’, implemented by GIZ.
The roundtable brought together representatives of government authorities, relevant institutions and experts to discuss the key provisions of the draft Concept, share recommendations and exchange views on its main areas of focus.
The Concept is intended to provide a long-term strategic framework for the rational and integrated use, protection and management of Kazakhstan’s groundwater resources through 2040. Its development is particularly important in the context of growing water demand and the need to ensure the sustainable use of water resources.
Following the discussion, participants expressed their support for the key provisions and conceptual approaches outlined in the draft Concept, highlighting its relevance for strengthening the sustainable management of the country’s groundwater resources.
The proposals and recommendations put forward during the roundtable will be taken into account in the further refinement of the Concept before its planned submission to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for consideration.
The event also contributed to strengthening professional cooperation and knowledge exchange among government institutions, relevant organizations and experts working in the field of groundwater management. The open professional dialogue provided an important contribution to the further development of approaches to sustainable water resources management in Kazakhstan.
