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Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Water use · Libya · 1983–2019

Great Man-Made River Project (Libya) and the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer

Nature's voice · report
The IAEA described me, the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System, as the largest fossil water aquifer system in the world, with water that is ancient and practically non-renewable.
Did nature suffer? Yes. Harm is on record.
Recorded
  • The IAEA wrote that fossil water is not replenished, risking over-abstraction and eventual depletion. IAEA
  • FAO data to 1995 put the total water withdrawal in Libya at 4.6 km3 in 1994, almost eight times annual renewable resources of 0.6 km3. FAO
  • FAO recorded seawater intrusion advancing at 100 to 250 m a year. FAO
  • FAO described a design transfer of about 2 km3 a year from me for at least 50 years, with 700 million m3 a year for Phase 1 from Sarir and Tazerbo and 800 million m3 a year for Phase 2. FAO
What the record lacks: 5 none on record · 4 disputed See the gaps

Libya's Great Man-Made River draws non-renewable fossil groundwater from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System through pipelines to the coast. A NATO strike near the Brega pipe plant in July 2011 and damage to wells in 2018–2019 affected the system, which about 1.5 million people relied on in 2019, according to the UN.

96 of 366Wells out of service, UN Humanitarian Coordinator, 20 May 2019
The UN statement said about 1.5 million people rely on the Great Man-Made River as their main freshwater source, including some 600,000 children.

Status As of July 2019 (latest reports): wells and the control station at Jabal al-Hasawna were out of service or dismantled and funding was short, according to the UN and the Tripoli water authority; no later measurements are on record.

What?
Libya's Great Man-Made River draws fossil groundwater from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System and carries it to the coast; a NATO strike near the Brega pipe plant on 22 July 2011 and damage to wells in 2018–2019 affected the system. Airwars
Where?
Wellfields at Sarir, Tazerbo and Kufra (Kufra basin, south-east Libya) and Jabal al-Hasawna (Murzuq basin, south-west); pipelines to Benghazi, Sirt and Tripoli; pipe plant near Brega. MEED
When?
Project start 1983; NATO strike 22 July 2011; control station shutdown 19 May 2019; UN statement 20 May 2019; Reuters report 2 July 2019. Airwars
Who?
Gained
  • Dong-Ah Construction, Al Nahr Co., SNC-Lavalin, Tekfen, Oztas/NGCC — Contracts for phases and pipe plants (MEED 2005: SNC-Lavalin about US$1,100 million for the Sarir pipe plant; Tekfen US$660–700 million for the phase 3 pipeline; Oztas/NGCC US$130–140 million) MEED
Lost
  • Korea Express — Negotiated a Libyan claim of US$1.3 billion down to US$80 million as guarantor for Dong-Ah Korea JoongAng Daily
  • Guards at a pipeline factory near Brega — Six killed on 22 July 2011, according to a Libyan official quoted by Reuters Airwars
Harmed
  • Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System — Non-renewable fossil water withdrawn; total withdrawal in 1994 almost eight times annual renewable resources (FAO) FAO
  • About 1.5 million people relying on the GMR — 96 of 366 wells out of service and the Jabal al-Hasawna control station shut down (UN, May 2019) UNSMIL
Why?
None on record.
How?
Water is pumped from wellfields in the south through pipelines to coastal cities; the system was damaged by a NATO strike on 22 July 2011 (Airwars) and by well sabotage and dismantling in 2018–2019 (UN, Reuters). UNSMIL
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

The Great Man-Made River (GMR) project started in 1983 and delivers water from wellfields at Sarir, Tazerbo and Kufra in the Kufra basin (south-east Libya) and from Jabal al-Hasawna in the Murzuq basin (south-west) through pipelines to Benghazi, Sirt and Tripoli. Phase 1 and 2 were built by Dong-Ah Construction. According to the IAEA, the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) is 'the largest fossil water aquifer system in the world', with water that is 'ancient and practically non-renewable'. FAO data to 1995 describe a design transfer of about 2 km3 a year for at least 50 years.

Airwars lists an incident on 22 July 2011 involving a NATO air strike near Brega, at the GMR pipe factory. The NATO strike report logged '1 Military Storage Facility, 4 Armed Vehicles' near Brega on that date. Reuters quoted a Libyan official as saying that six guards were killed at a pipeline factory, and a director of the Libyan river company called the strike 'a major setback for future projects'. Airwars wrote that NATO has not assessed civilian harm.

On 20 May 2019 the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya, Maria Ribeiro, said that the shutdown of the Jabal al-Hasawna control station on 19 May, which she described as deliberate, deprived 'hundreds of thousands of already embattled Libyans of safe drinking water'. She also commented on the legal status of attacks on civilian infrastructure (quoted below), and said that about 1.5 million people rely on the GMR as their main freshwater source, including some 600,000 children, that 96 of 366 wells were out of service, and that well sabotage had risen sharply since early 2018.

On 2 July 2019 Reuters quoted Abdullah El-Sunni, head of the Tripoli water authority, as saying that 101 of 479 wells on the western system had been dismantled and that western flow had fallen from 'the normal flow of 1.2 million cubic metres per day' to about 800,000 m3 a day. A draft UNICEF report cited by Reuters said: 'If not addressed properly and immediately, these threats and damages could lead to the complete failure of the MMRP.' El-Sunni said water infrastructure needed 2 billion dinars; the authority received 60 million dinars the previous year and nothing yet in 2019. National Centre for Disease Control head Badr al-Din al-Najjar said 'All water is contaminated.' Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj of the Government of National Accord said development and services funding had been diverted to equip troops and treat the wounded.

  1. 1983Project start; Phases 1 and 2 built by Dong-Ah Construction
  2. 2001Libya seeks US$1.3 billion from Korea Express as guarantor for Dong-Ah over delays (February); negotiated down to US$80 million
  3. 2004Korea Express agrees to repair 20,000 of 250,000 phase-1 pipes (reported 27 Dec)
  4. 2011NATO air strike near Brega on the pipe factory (22 Jul)
  5. 2019Jabal al-Hasawna control station shut down (19 May); UN statement (20 May); Reuters report on wells and funding (2 Jul)

What was said

Claims, in the words of those who made them.

“may be considered war crimes”

Maria Ribeiro, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya, on attacks on civilian infrastructure · 20 May 2019 · UNSMIL

“hundreds of thousands of already embattled Libyans of safe drinking water”

Maria Ribeiro, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya, on the shutdown of the Jabal al-Hasawna control station · 20 May 2019 · UNSMIL

“the normal flow of 1.2 million cubic metres per day”

Abdullah El-Sunni, head of the Tripoli water authority (Reuters) · 2 July 2019 · Euronews (Reuters)

“If not addressed properly and immediately, these threats and damages could lead to the complete failure of the MMRP.”

“All water is contaminated.”

Badr al-Din al-Najjar, head of the National Centre for Disease Control (Reuters) · 2 July 2019 · Euronews (Reuters)

“a major setback for future projects”

Director of the Libyan river company, on the Brega strike (via Airwars) · July 2011 · Airwars

“the largest 'fossil water' aquifer system in the world. Its water is ancient and practically non-renewable”

IAEA, on the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System · 2010–2012 · IAEA

Where accounts differ

Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.

What was struck near Brega on 22 July 2011
International bodies
NATO (strike report as listed by Airwars)

Logged '1 Military Storage Facility, 4 Armed Vehicles' near Brega on 22 July 2011.

Airwars
Government and regulators
A Libyan official quoted by Reuters (via Airwars)

Said six guards were killed at a pipeline factory.

Airwars
Company or project
Director of the Libyan river company (via Airwars)

Called the strike 'a major setback for future projects'.

Airwars
Number of wells out of service in 2019
International bodies
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya

On 20 May 2019, 96 of 366 wells were out of service.

UNSMIL
Government and regulators
Abdullah El-Sunni, head of the Tripoli water authority (Reuters)

On 2 July 2019, 101 of 479 wells on the western system had been dismantled.

Euronews (Reuters)

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

  • Target logged as '1 Military Storage Facility, 4 Armed Vehicles' near Brega on 22 July 2011.
    NATO strike report, as listed by Airwars · Airwars
  • The shutdown of the Jabal al-Hasawna control station was described as deliberate.
    UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya, statement of 20 May 2019 · UNSMIL

Recorded

  • UN, 20 May 2019: 96 of 366 wells out of service; well sabotage up sharply since early 2018; about 1.5 million people rely on the GMR as main freshwater source.
    UNSMIL
  • Reuters, 2 July 2019: 101 of 479 wells on the western system dismantled; western flow down from 1.2 million m3 a day to about 800,000 m3 a day.
    Euronews (Reuters)
  • Funding gap (2019): 2 billion dinars needed; 60 million dinars received the previous year; nothing yet in 2019 (El-Sunni).
    Euronews (Reuters)
  • FAO: total withdrawal 4.6 km3 in 1994, 'almost eight times' annual renewable resources of 0.6 km3; seawater intrusion advancing 100–250 m a year.
    FAO

Who gained

Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.

Reached nature or the ground

Not published
Compensation for the 2011 Brega strike; restoration of the aquifer—
None on record.

Gained elsewhere

Not totalled
Original budget, five phases (Korea JoongAng Daily, 2004)$14bn
Window: 2004 report
First two phases, cost (Korea JoongAng Daily, 2004)$10.2bn
Window: 2004 report
Last three phases, value (Al Nahr Co. joint venture; Korea JoongAng Daily, 2004)$6.1bn
Window: 2004 report
Libya's claim on Korea Express as guarantor for Dong-Ah, sought$1.3bn
Window: 2001
Libya's claim on Korea Express, after negotiation$80m
Window: 2001
GMR project (MEED, 2005)$20bn
Window: 2005 report
Phase 1 (MEED, 2005)$4bn
Window: 2005 report
Contracts awarded in 2005, about (MEED)≈ $2bn
Window: 2005 report
Currency: USD · Window: mixed — see each line. Figures cover different periods and are not compared as a ratio. * Estimate built from cited figures.

Responses on record

  • unicef (2 July 2019): A draft report said that if the threats and damages were not addressed properly and immediately they could lead to the complete failure of the project. · Euronews (Reuters)
  • united-nations (20 May 2019): The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya said the shutdown of the Jabal al-Hasawna control station deprived hundreds of thousands of people of safe drinking water. · UNSMIL

In court and with insurers

Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

Lawsuits and rulings

  1. 2001–Settled$80m after negotiation from US$1.3 billion sought
    Libya's claim on Korea Express as guarantor for Dong-Ah Construction
    Negotiation (no forum named) · Civil · Libya (Great Man-Made River project) → Korea Express (guarantor for Dong-Ah Construction)

    In February 2001 Libya sought US$1.3 billion from Korea Express as guarantor for Dong-Ah over delays, negotiated down to US$80 million; Korea Express agreed to repair 20,000 of 250,000 phase-1 pipes (Korea JoongAng Daily, 27 December 2004). Korea JoongAng Daily

Insurers

No insurer decision on record.

What nature saw

Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.

Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.

Wells out of service
96 of 366
UN Humanitarian Coordinator, 20 May 2019; Reuters gave 101 of 479 wells on the western system dismantled
Withdrawal vs renewable resources
almost 8 times
FAO: 4.6 km3 withdrawn in 1994 against 0.6 km3 a year renewable
Seawater intrusion
100–250 m a year
FAO data to 1995
Compensation for the 2011 Brega strike
None on record

What we don't know

Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
No court case

Money

  • None on record Compensation for the 2011 Brega strike; restoration of the aquifer — None on record.

Accounts

  • Disputed What was struck near Brega on 22 July 2011
  • Disputed Number of wells out of service in 2019

Record

  • Disputed Figures differ: the cost of the project is given as an original budget of US$14 billion in five phases, with US$10.2 billion for the first two phases and US$6.1 billion for the last three (Korea JoongAng Daily, 2004), and as US$20,000 million (MEED, 2005).
  • Disputed Figures differ: wells out of service are given as 96 of 366 (UN, May 2019) and as 101 of 479 on the western system (Reuters, July 2019); the denominators differ.
  • None on record None on record: compensation for the 2011 Brega strike.
  • None on record None on record: a total war-damage cost estimate.
  • None on record None on record: an official measured aquifer drawdown series; the IAEA wrote that 'gaps in understanding how the NSAS works still remain'.
  • None on record None on record: court cases or insurance.

Did the harm stop?

None on record. In July 2019 Reuters reported that 101 of 479 wells on the western system had been dismantled and that flow had fallen from 1.2 million to about 800,000 m3 a day.

Who paid?

None on record. No compensation for the 2011 Brega strike and no total war-damage cost estimate is on record; in 2019 the Tripoli water authority said it received 60 million dinars against 2 billion dinars needed.

Sources

Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society— Researchers✓ International bodies

Press and investigations

  2. Korea Express to take over huge Libyan project
    Korea JoongAng Daily · 2004-12-27
  3. Tripoli steps up GMR pace
    MEED · 2005-08-12

Communities and civil society

International bodies

Connected cases

Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
Terms used on this page

Science and environment

Groundwater
Water held underground in soil and rock, drawn through wells.

Insurance

Non-renewal
An insurer's decision not to renew a policy when it expires.

Bonds and banking

Guarantee
A commitment by a third party, often a development bank, to pay if the borrower does not.
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