Qosh Tepa Canal

under construction

Under Construction

The Qosh Tepa Canal is an ambitious irrigation project in Afghanistan that involves diverting significant volumes of water from the Amu Darya River for irrigation purposes. The canal is planned to be 285 kilometers long and aims to rejuvenate Afghanistan's drought-stricken agriculture sector, reduce dependence on food imports, and decrease the economy's reliance on the illegal drug trade. Construction began in 2021 and has progressed rapidly, with almost half completed. The canal is expected to be fully operational by 2028, diverting up to 10 cubic kilometers of water annually, about a third of the Amu Darya's flow. The project has caused regional tensions due to lack of water use agreements with neighboring Central Asian countries and concerns about outdated construction methods leading to water loss.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Project

Water Supply and Storage, Raw Materials, Government