Libyan water megaproject
A running river under the desert or a river running under the desert sand?
Jordan Times
By Ammar W. Mango
One of the least talked about mega projects in the world media lies beneath the
desert in Libya. Termed the “Great Man Made River,” it consists of a network
of underground pipe systems that draw water from the deep aquifers beneath the
Libyan desert, and pumps it all the way to the population centres of Libya’s
Mediterranean coast.
The project, started almost forty years ago, is considered one of the greatest
engineering feats ever to be attempted and consists of over 1,300 wells and
2,000 kilometres of pipelines which provide potable water daily to Tripoli,
Benghazi, and Sirte.
The need for the project arises from the fact that most of Libya is arid desert
land, with hardly any rainfall to support its fresh water needs. During oil
explorations in the fifties, expeditions discovered over ten thousand year old
aquifers of water hidden deep in the desert. This finding provided an
alternative for solving the water shortage problems that would have plagued
Libya’s future. Other options considered included importing water and
desalination plants.
Despite skeptics, the man made river option was chosen over the others. At the
time, one of the concerns was that the amount of water in the aquifers was not
really known. Initially, rough estimates said there was enough water to last
fifteen to fifty years. However, more recent estimates have put the figure at
one hundred years.
The project is still half way through, with two of its five phases already
complete. Phases one and two were completed in 1991 and 1996, respectively.
Phase three is currently in progress, and the whole project is expected to take
another twenty years to complete.
Once completed, the project will provide 6.5 million cubic metres of fresh water
daily to several cities in Libya. It will also provide the needed irrigation
for 1.5 billion square metres of cultivated land. The flow of water at its
completion will be equivalent to the daily flow of the River Thames in London.
The project is owned by the Great Man-made River Authority and funded by the
Libyan government. The total cost is projected at more than $25 billion. More
than 10,000 people and 4,500 pieces of equipment are currently engaged on the
project.
Most of the material used, including the huge four metre diameter pipes were
manufactured in two local specially built plants. UNESCO has been a
contributor to the project by providing training for engineers and technicians
through a training centre and a technical documentation centre set up to serve
the project. Also, several international subcontractors have been hired
throughout the project to aid in the design and provide other technical
services. Some sources estimate that the stone and sand used to make the pipes
are sixteen times the amount sufficient to build the pyramids of Giza. This
might be why some Libyans proudly call it the “eighth wonder of the world.”
A project of this magnitude and requiring such a long time to complete requires
the continuous support of its sponsors in the face of changing circumstances.
This is why such projects only survive if a deeply strategic goal lies behind
the project to the point that will ensure the continuous funding and support to
see it through to completion.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007