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Africa's Mega-River: New Phase Builds World's Largest Oasis
7 Jan
Summary
- Massive ancient water project in Libya expands with £5.1 billion phase.
- Project taps into prehistoric 'fossil water' from Sahara's vast aquifer.
- Scheme could be sole solution to Libya's water scarcity issues.
Libya's Great Man-Made River (GMMR), a monumental engineering feat, is undergoing a significant £5.1 billion expansion. This project, tapping into vast prehistoric 'fossil water' reserves from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System under the Sahara, aims to alleviate severe water scarcity in the North African nation.
The GMMR, initiated in the late 1960s and significantly backed by the late leader Muammar Gaddafi, has spanned multiple phases, with the fifth phase now nearing completion. The first phase was completed on August 28, 1991, and the current expansion will extend coverage to currently unconnected rural and northern areas.
Despite facing challenges including damage from the 2011 civil war and concerns over the non-renewable nature of the water source, the GMMR remains Libya's strategic solution for drinking, irrigation, and industrial water needs, offering a vital alternative to expensive desalination processes.
