On December 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the ongoing work in the water management sector to increase energy efficiency, develop research potential, and strengthen international cooperation.
Plans to replace outdated and energy-intensive pumping units with modern, energy-efficient ones, were reviewed.
For instance, in Karakalpakstan, there are 274 pumping stations that irrigate over 185 thousand hectares of land. Over half of the pumping units at these stations consist of equipment manufactured after 1979, and their energy consumption is 2-3 times higher than that of modern pumps.
A phased replacement of 276 pumps in Karakalpakstan with modern, energy-efficient units is planned, which will significantly save electricity.
Additionally, information on the achievements and future plans of the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation was presented. It was noted that today the university enrolls 8,682 students. The university has achieved high results in international rankings, placing 501st among world universities in the “The World University Rankings 2026”, second in Central Asia and the Caucasus, and 1st in Uzbekistan. It also rose to 469th place in the “QS World University Rankings 2026”.
The university will launch a master’s program “Water Diplomacy,” with plans to give this specialization international status. The President instructed to develop concrete measures to position the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation among the world’s top 300 universities.
Special attention was paid to international cooperation issues.
It was noted that in recent months, Tashkent hosted the first Central Asian conference on drinking water supply and sanitation services. The Tashkent International Water Week is scheduled to be held in March of next year. The forum will serve as a platform for strengthening cooperation with international institutions and countries in the region, dialogue on the rational use of water resources, and the implementation of green technologies.
Next year will also see an international forum dedicated to water-saving technologies in the Aral Sea region.
