Browsing by Author "Mubarakshin, Bulat"

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    Master Thesis
    The Problem of the Water-Energy Nexus in the Aral Sea Basin: Identifying Feasible Political-Economıc Solutions
    (İzmir Ekonomi Üniversitesi, 2022) Mubarakshin, Bulat; Biresselioğlu, Mehmet Efe
    Mechanisms of Soviet centralized planning made it possible to maintain a balance of interests between hydrocarbon-rich Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and water-abundant Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The key element to this system was large-scale multi-purpose hydropower plants on the Syr Darya and Amu Darya that provided the former, downstream republics with water essential for irrigated agriculture. Power generated at these plants was complemented by fuels from the downstream republics to ensure sustainable electricity distribution within the Central Asian Power System, whereas occurring imbalances were alleviated by coordinated inter-republican supplies of hydrocarbons. Upon the demise of the unified state, the upstream countries had to purchase oil and gas at world prices, while the downstream ones continued utilizing the water coming from the formers' territory for free. By the mid-1990s, operations at Kyrgyz and Tajik HPPs were switched from the designed irrigation to energy modes that resulted in summer droughts, winter floods, and energy disparities. Despite all the efforts inside the region and by the international community to change things, Central Asians now annually lose huge sums due to a lack of closer cooperation on water issues. This study, based on the benefit-sharing approach, analyzes the use of water and energy resources to ascertain feasible political-economic solutions to the water-energy conflict in the Aral Sea Basin. Through the surveying scholars familiar with the problem, the investigation also evaluates the applicability of various ideas and concepts to tackle the issue. Based on these findings, the study will suggest some suggestions and policy recommendations. Keywords: Central Asia, conflict, water, energy, nexus, benefit-sharing