The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has initiated preliminary consultations with Uzbekistan regarding the Qosh Tepa irrigation canal project in Afghanistan. This was announced by EDB Chairman Nikolai Podguzov on the sidelines of the EDB Day event in Tashkent.

Podguzov emphasized that the project requires careful attention to water management and that technology is crucial. He did not disclose details of the negotiations, promising to provide more information after further development.

The Qosh Tepa canal is an artificial irrigation channel on the transboundary Amu Darya River, designed to divert water for Afghanistan's agriculture. It will be 285 km long, 100 m wide, and 8.5 m deep, diverting 6–10 cubic kilometers of water annually to irrigate 550,000 hectares.

Analysts estimate that the canal could divert up to 20% of the Amu Darya's flow, reducing Uzbekistan's water supply by 15% and Turkmenistan's by a catastrophic 80%. UNICEF warns of 250,000 job losses in Uzbekistan's agricultural sector.

The project, costing nearly $700 million, is expected to generate $500 million in annual revenue for Afghanistan. However, experts express concern over inefficient water use amid growing regional drought and scarcity.

Source: podrobno.uz