On Sunday, the Libyan Parliament announced the appointment of a new executive board for the management of the Great Man-Made River Project (GMMRP), as outlined in decision No. 15 of 2023.
According to the decision, Saad Boumtari has been entrusted with the role of Chairman for the project. Other notable appointments to the committee include Fawzi Said, Hassan Nakhath, Aboubakar Ali, and Ahmed Al-Dib. The decision comes into effect from the date of its announcement.
Initiated in 1984 at a total cost of $35 billion, the GMMRP was conceived as an ambitious project to channel groundwater from the southern parts of the country to the northern cities.
A significant 80% of Libya’s population, primarily concentrated in coastal cities, is dependent on the water supplied by the GMMRP. This water is extracted from subterranean aquifers in the south and is funneled through a complex network of pipes.
With the new leadership, Libya showcases its renewed commitment to efficient water resource management and sustainable infrastructure, a crucial step towards improving the country’s socio-economic status.
Libya is one of the driest countries in the world. Only about 5% of the entire country receives enough rainfall for settled agriculture. The rest of the country is desert, and the primary source of water has been from desalination plants located along the coast. The aquifers tapped by the GMMR offer a sustainable source of freshwater that could turn vast areas of the country into arable land.
The GMMR provides water to several cities in Libya, including Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sirte, enhancing both residential and agricultural capabilities. It is estimated that when the entire project is completed, it will irrigate more than 350,000 acres of arable land and significantly increase available drinking water in most of Libya’s urban centers.
The GMMR faced several challenges over the years, including damage during the Libyan civil war, where parts of the infrastructure were directly targeted and destroyed. The project has also been criticized for its high cost and the potential for the aquifers to be overdrawn.
Nevertheless, the project plays a crucial role in Libya’s infrastructure and economy, providing a critical source of freshwater in this predominantly desert country. The appointment of a new leadership board signifies Libya’s commitment to maintaining and improving this vital project.