Water conflict looms in Nagorno-Karabakh as key reservoir dries up

The Sarsang reservoir, located in Karabakh’s northern Martakert region, provides 40-60% of Nagorno-Karabakh’s electricity. Due to Azerbaijan’s blockade, which has included significant energy disruptions, the authorities in Stepanakert have been releasing substantially more water from the reservoir than usual to power a nearby hydroelectric power station. Since the blockade began last December, Sarsang’s water levels have dropped noticeably. The lowered water level could lead to problems for both Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, as there are a number of villages in both Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan that rely on Sarsang’s waters for irrigation.