Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 16 JUNE 2026

Kazakhstan’s Water Code: What Businesses Should Know Before 2027

Unicase Law Firm
Unicase Law Firm
Contributor
Unicase Law Firm

Unicase Law Firm

Unicase is a leading full-service law firm with offices in Almaty, Astana and Tashkent. The brand...

View firm profile
Explore more from Unicase Law Firm

Kazakhstan's new Water Code introduces stricter requirements for special water use permits starting January 2027, mandating comprehensive documentation including technical passports, measuring devices, and five-year plans for water loss reduction. Water users must demonstrate compliance with operational limits, implement best available technologies, and maintain proper monitoring systems...

KazakhstanEnvironment
Alua Amirbekova
Alua Amirbekova

Kazakhstan’s new Water Code, adopted on 9 April 2025, introduced a more conservation-focused and risk-based approach to water regulation. This follows earlier discussions around the draft Water Code, including the key proposed changes covered in our article “Kazakhstan Water Code Draft for 2024: What Is New.” Although the Code is already in force, several provisions that may materially affect businesses and other water users will apply from 1 January 2027.

One of the key changes concerns the calculation of water-use limits. From 2027, such limits will be determined only after calculating the environmental flow, meaning the mandatory volume of water that must remain in the natural environment to preserve water ecosystems.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Kazakhstan Tightens Environmental Regulation - Key Amendments To The Environmental Code Of The Republic Of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's environmental regulatory framework has undergone significant reform through amendments to the Environmental Code, introducing new facility classification criteria, enhanced state control mechanisms, and digital reporting requirements. The changes establish risk-based inspection protocols, financial security obligations for high-impact facilities, and provisions for voluntary carbon markets aligned with the Paris Agreement.
KazakhstanEnvironment
Unicase Law Firm
Unicase Law Firm
Article

Kazakhstan Adopts New Law On Radioactive Waste Management

Kazakhstan has enacted its first dedicated radioactive waste management law, establishing a national operator with exclusive disposal rights and new compliance requirements. The legislation introduces stricter ownership transfer conditions, removes previous storage time limits, and creates a framework for importing reprocessed nuclear material. These changes have significant implications for nuclear facility developers, uranium producers, financiers, and contractors operating in Kazakhstan's expanding nucle
KazakhstanEnvironment
Unicase Law Firm
Unicase Law Firm
Article

Kazakhstan Advances Carbon Neutrality Agenda

Kazakhstan has approved a comprehensive Action Plan implementing its Carbon Neutrality Strategy to 2060, establishing emissions trajectories, sector-specific targets, and regulatory measures across electricity generation, hydrogen development, industrial decarbonisation, carbon markets, and climate reporting. The plan creates a structured framework for transitioning the country's coal-dependent energy system while introducing new requirements for carbon pricing, climate disclosure, and green finance that wi
KazakhstanEnvironment
Unicase Law Firm
Unicase Law Firm
Article

A “hot Season” For Kazakhstan Heating Sector

Kazakhstan has made significant strides in sustainable development and carbon neutrality, yet faces critical challenges in implementing its climate strategies. The country's heating sector reforms, renewable energy targets, and decarbonization roadmap reveal tensions between ambitious environmental goals and structural dependence on coal and hydrocarbons, raising questions about the enforceability of climate commitments and the adequacy of investment frameworks.
KazakhstanEnvironment
Unicase Law Firm
Unicase Law Firm
Article

Kazakhstan’s 2026 Tax Reform: From Budget Deficit To Business Burden

Kazakhstan's 2026 tax reform, initially intended to address budget deficits through measured revenue increases, has evolved into a comprehensive overhaul that significantly expands the tax and compliance burden on businesses. The reform introduces restrictions on expense deductions for payments to simplified-regime taxpayers, potentially raising effective corporate tax rates far beyond the statutory 20% rate, despite warnings from local experts about the risks of sudden tax increases.
KazakhstanTax
Unicase Law Firm
Unicase Law Firm
Article

Temporary Residence Permits And C5 Visas For Business - Immigrants Staying In The Republic Of Kazakhstan

Migration formalities for foreign nationals in Kazakhstan require both the host party and the foreign national to follow a sequence of formal procedures. The purpose of stay of business immigrants, the existence of a proper legal basis for residence, timely notification of arrival, and compliance with the requirements applicable to conducting business activities are of significant importance for business immigrants.
KazakhstanImmigration
Unicase Law Firm
Unicase Law Firm