The FBRK editorial team continues its analysis of the most expensive government procurement contracts of Kazakh ministries in 2024.
We have already examined the government procurement of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Ecology, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Digital Development, Ministry of National Economy and Ministry of Tourism and Sport and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Today we will look at the largest procurements of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
In 2024, the ministry demonstrated a large-scale approach to water resource management, where international cooperation played a key role.
The largest expenditure item — 14.4 billion tenge — was allocated for the operational activities of republican and transboundary facilities by the RSE «Kazvodkhoz», the state organisation responsible for managing the country's water management infrastructure.
Significant attention was paid to the environmental component: 8 billion tenge was allocated for carrying out compensatory environmental water releases.
These measures are aimed at regulating the water regime of rivers to maintain ecosystems, prevent the degradation of floodplain areas, and ensure the necessary conditions for biodiversity.
The scale of interaction with neighbouring states was significant. Over 5.1 billion tenge was allocated for operational activities involving Russian specialists.
Joint hydrological studies of the Zhaiyk and Yertis river basins required additional funding of 105.6 million tenge, distributed over two years: 47.8 million tenge in 2024 and 57.7 million tenge in 2025.
The ministry paid particular attention to cooperation with Kyrgyzstan. In conditions of low water levels in the Syr Darya river basin, which created difficulties with water supply for agricultural land in the Zhetysai and Maktaaral districts of the Turkestan region, nearly 570 million tenge was allocated for electricity exchange services.
This decision was dictated by the fact that in winter Kyrgyzstan experiences an electricity shortage, and without electricity supplies from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz side would be forced to launch mini-hydroelectric power plants on the Talas River.
Such a scenario would lead to winter water discharges into the frozen river on Kazakhstan's territory, causing ice jams, floods and destruction. Therefore, it is more advantageous for Kazakhstan to provide Kyrgyzstan with electricity in winter, receiving in return the necessary volume of water for irrigation in summer.
As part of developing expert cooperation, 105.1 million tenge was directed towards attracting foreign, particularly Chinese, specialists to intergovernmental commissions and working groups on the management of transboundary waters.
This amount covered the full arrangements for the foreign delegation's visit, from visa processing to providing transport within Kazakhstan.
Work with the BVO «Syr Darya» deserves a special mention — an organisation managing the water resources of one of Central Asia's largest rivers, flowing through the territories of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. 186.9 million tenge was allocated for operational activities involving them.
The activities of the International Water Assessment Centre received stable funding with a gradual budget increase: 63.7 million tenge in 2024 and a planned 64.2 million tenge in 2025. The centre's responsibilities include implementing the work programme for 2022-2024, developing the next three-year programme for 2025-2027, and assisting in the implementation of the Convention on Transboundary Waters.
An analysis of the largest procurements showed that in 2024 the ministry not only maintained existing infrastructure but also strengthened international mechanisms for resolving water issues.
To recall, in June last year, an audit conducted in the Zhambyl region revealed about 10 cases of illegal water use, as well as violations in contracts for the supply of irrigation water concluded with farmers.
In July, for the violations committed, the director of the local branch and the head of the Shu-Talas Basin Inspection were held to disciplinary account.
In September, following an internal audit, the director of the RSE «Kazvodkhoz» branch for the Zhambyl region and the head of the Asa Production Site lost their positions.
In October, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation identified violations totalling 20 million tenge, related to illegal water abstraction, ineffective water resource management and problems in the area of government procurement in the branches of Kazvodkhoz.
In February 2025, it became known that after an audit of the branches of the RSE «Kazvodkhoz», which was conducted in 2024, more than 30 individuals were brought to administrative responsibility, and several officials to disciplinary responsibility.
To be continued...