With more than 90% of its landmass being semi-arid or arid, Libya is one of the driest countries in the world. The water source was a great problem for millions of citizens across the country before Muammar Gaddafi ascend to power. A large reserve of clean water was accidentally found when oil companies were searching for oil gas. It became a great relief and the government immediately started to put in place piping infrastructure without any delay.(Pipeline routes)
Source of Water and Construction
The Great Man-Made River was the largest irrigation system in the world and had large and spread networks of pipelines that pumped high-quality fresh water from deep in the Sahara desert for domestic, irrigation, and industrial use.
There are four large subterranean basins containing water with some being 600 metres deep. The initial feasibility studies for the project were completed in 1974 by North Korean engineers. The embarked implementation of the work and laying of pipes started without any delay. Farmers were given free land, machinery, seeds, and fertilizers to grow food and keep livestock. The nation was on the path to becoming self-sufficient in food before setbacks occur.
Cost
It was built by Gaddafi at an estimated cost of $25 billion and did not seek any financial support from other countries or loans from banks. He purely use the money he got from the sale of oil to finance the whole project. Construction took years, going through multiple structural design and technical phases. Most of the materials used were locally manufactured and a small portion was imported, while at the same time limiting foreigners.
Destruction
Libya’s water supply is in danger due to a significant issue. The damage to the buildings is what concerns me the most right now. The Hassawna system, which provides water to one-third of the nation, was the target of the most recent attack.
More than 70% of the construction was accomplished by the time the rebellion against Gaddafi got underway in early 2011.
However, because of the Western-supported revolution that rocked the once-successful country, the project and its web of infrastructure were vandalized by rebels and rebels bombed them into pieces. It became a weapon of war as rebels cut them to stop water from flowing to the strongholds of Gaddafi during the war. Libya’s 6.3 million citizens were cut off from accessing the water.
However, on July 22, 2011, NATO fighter jets bombed the Brega pipeline manufacturing facility. They claimed that government fighters were storing weapons in the facility.
Current State of the Project
The GMR is no longer functioning because there is no power to pump water. There are no spare parts and the cost of restoration is too expensive. These problems can not be corrected in never future due to political and economic turmoil that continues to rock Libya.
Underground reservoirs have been contaminated by oil leakages in aquifers. Old desalination plants require a total overhaul to help in purifying the water but this can not go on as long as there is fighting.
This article was compiled and published by Yator Enock from Kapkimolwa, Bomet County.
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