The Thirsty Dragon: Activists Take On Planned Russian Dams Intending To Quench China’s Thirst For Power
April 4th, 2013
Courtesy of China Dialogue, an interesting article on how Chinese investors are being targeted by environmentalists concerned about proposed hydro dams in Russia: If allowed to go ahead, the Nizhne-Angarskaya dam would disrupt the ecosystem of Lake Baikal, say environmental groups Russian companies want to help China quench its enormous thirst for electricity through [...]
Read more »Russian Control of Central Asian Dams “Risks Full Conflict With Uzbekistan”
September 28th, 2012
Via Ooska News, a look at Central Asian water tensions: Russia’s support for upstream Kyrgyzstan in its dispute with downstream Uzbekistan over water resources in Central Asia will strain Russian-Uzbek relations, according to an Uzbek expert. During a visit to the region last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered support to Kyrgyzstan in its conflict [...]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Fossil Fuel Wealth, Water, and Poverty in Xinjiang
April 15th, 2011
Via Circle of Blue, a brief look at the tension between China’s desire to promote growth in its Xinjiang region and the lack of water there. As the article notes, Xinjiang has few local water sources, and even those are complicated by international politics. The Irtysh River and the Ili River originate in Xinjiang, before [...]
Read more »Central Asian Water Politics…with Energy & Security Implications
November 2nd, 2010
Courtesy of STRATFOR (subscription required), a detailed look at the water politics of Central Asia, namely Tajikistan’s request for Russian support of a hydroelectric power plant that Uzbekistan opposes. As the article notes: “…sources in Central Asia reported Nov. 1 that Russia is in talks with Tajik authorities about having an open contract for Russia’s [...]
Read more »Russia: “We must not buy Perrier…we must sell our water abroad.”
October 28th, 2010
Via Window on Eurasia, an interesting report that Russia is considering selling some of its water abroad. As the article notes: “…Moscow is making plans to exploit its position as a “fresh water superpower” and sell some of its holdings of this increasingly precious commodity to water-short neighbors and other countries further afield, according to [...]
Read more »Lake Balkhash: Becoming A Second Aral Sea?
October 27th, 2010
Courtesy of Window on Eurasia, an interesting report on the possibility that – as a Russian commentator recently stated – Lake Balkhash, the 12th largest lake in the world, is on the way to becoming “a second Aral Sea,” but one with potentially even more serious political consequences because both the causes of the lake’s [...]
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