Libya prepares final phase for giant man-made river

Libya, one of the world’s most water-stressed countries, is planning to finalise its Great Man-Made River Project (GMMRP) at a cost of $7 billion over six years.

The GMMRP has been a crucial lifeline for the country, partially addressing scarcity by serving as the primary provider of fresh water to population centres along the coastal belt.

The GMMRP is currently around 4,500km long and supplies more than 70 percent of Libyan cities, but some North-eastern parts of the country have been excluded from the massive scheme. 

After 10 months of technical study, the GMMRP board has officially committed to constructing the fifth and final phase of the project, which aims to connect the entire country.

The hope is that all of Libya’s farms, villages and cities will gain access to fresh Saharan water via a gigantic network of underground pipes and reservoirs.

The missing piece of the puzzle

Kufra-Butnan-Jabal Akhdar, also known as “The Fifth River”, will utilise 320 wells south of Kufra, an oasis in Libya’s far south, and 100 more water wells in the area east of Sarir. The new pipelines will extend about 1,500km and have a total capacity of over 2.5 million cubic metres per day. 

This fresh phase will run in parallel to the existing line of Phase One, supplying water by natural gravity. The fresh water pipelines will branch into four directions (as indicated in the map).

GMMRA

An eastern branch, carrying 400,000 cubic metres per day, will be targeted towards the eastern city of Tobruk and will cover all the areas nearby and towards the Libyan-Egyptian border. 

The city of Derna – hit hard by storms last year – and nearby areas will receive 250,000 cubic metres. Another northern section, carrying 300,000 cubic metres per day, will cover all cities and towns in Jabal Akhdar or the Green Mountain between Derna and Benghazi.

A third westwards branch, designed to carry 445,000 cubic metres per day, will cover the fertile area of Al Marj and all the towns and villages it supports. A substantial volume of water will be fed into irrigation and agricultural projects. 

A final section, carrying 400,000 cubic metres daily, will branch back south-westwards to a regulating reservoir at Ajdabiya, so that it can connect with all phases of the project and compensate for any water deficiencies or emergencies.

This complex fifth phase undoubtedly poses challenges for Libyan engineers. The pipeline route traverses diverse terrains and topographies, requiring advanced surveying techniques and geotechnical studies. 

Elevations range from 10 meteres below to 300 metres above sea level so the project will require pumping stations to ensure water flow. 

Old hands, new phase

But the project has experience on its side. Since the inception of the Great Man-Made River Authority (GMMRA) in the early 1980s, Libyan water managers, scientists and engineers, in collaboration with international contractors and project management firms, have amassed substantial expertise in addressing the complex demands of this monumental undertaking.

To date, the project has cost $25 billion. It has also faced sizeable challenges, including a prolonged civil war, delays caused by political instability, and squeezes on funding.

Additionally, GMMRA suffered a major setback in 2011 when the international bombing campaign on Libya destroyed the Brega Pipes Manufacturing Plant. The destruction of this facility, designed to produce massive pre-stressed concrete pipes for the GMMRP, severely hindered water supply efforts.

The fifth phase of this colossal project aims to connect the pipe network, fully activate the system, and restore much of its intended capacity. 

Successful implementation will require continuous funding, the appointment of qualified consultants, and the selection of the most efficient and durable materials for the pipeline network.

Salem Maiar is a consultant in Libyan natural resources, finances and geopolitics