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.