Over the past three years, about 40 billion cubic meters of water have entered Lake Balkhash, helping to stabilize the lake's level. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
Specifically, in 2024, about 15.9 billion cubic meters of water were sent to Lake Balkhash, while in 2025 this figure amounted to 13.9 billion cubic meters. Since the beginning of this year, more than 9.7 billion cubic meters of water have flowed into the lake.
"The volume of water coming to Balkhash via the Ili River corresponds to the long-term average. This allows maintaining a stable water level in the lake. Currently, the water level in Balkhash remains at 341 meters above sea level according to the Baltic height system," said Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.
According to the head of the ministry, a master plan for preserving Lake Balkhash until 2040 is being developed jointly with French experts. Field studies have been conducted, and the results are currently being analyzed.
Water is sent to Balkhash from the Kapshagay Reservoir. It regulates the flow of the transboundary Ili River. In the previous two years, the reservoir was filled to 100% of its capacity.