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The Great Man Made River - Phase 3 

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Great Man Made River Project

The Great Man-Made River Project

Libya’s Lifeline Beneath the Desert

Welcome to the official page dedicated to one of the greatest civil engineering achievements of the modern era — The Great Man-Made River (GMMR).

Born from the vision of Muammar Al Gaddafi, the GMMR was designed to unlock Libya’s ancient underground water reserves and bring fresh, clean water from deep beneath the Sahara to the coastal cities, farmlands, and communities of Libya. This monumental project has been described by engineers, environmentalists, and world leaders alike as "the largest irrigation project in the world."

With over 1,600 wells, stretching more than 4,000 kilometers of buried pipelines, the GMMR became a symbol of self-reliance, sovereignty, and sustainable development — built without loans or Western corporate control.

This website explores the history, science, and legacy of this visionary project — a lifeline that still serves millions today, despite years of conflict and sabotage.

The third stage

This phase aims to add (1.68) million cubic meters of water a day-to-energy first and second phases will be pumping this amount of additional field wells in the basin of the infidels, and composed this stage of the three lines, first heading to the south of Green Mountain and ventralis and the second stems from the infidels, and joining the line north of the first phase fields Tazrbu and third connecting first and second phases.
And the completion of the Phase III project have been completed and the river's total water-borne (6.1) million cubic meters a day.

Great Man Made River Project 1984 - 2011

📊 Facts & Figures, Page Links

  • Project Name: Great Man-Made River (GMMR)

  • Initiated by: Muammar Al Gaddafi

  • Start Date: Officially launched in 1984

🛠️ Timeline of Construction Phases

📍 Phase I (1984–1991)

  • Scope: Transfer of water from As-Sarir and Tazerbo wells to Benghazi and Sirte

  • Infrastructure: 1,600 km of pipeline

  • Storage: Construction of large reservoirs like Omar Mukhtar Reservoir

📍 Phase II (1991–1996)

  • Scope: Supply of water from Fezzan (southern Libya) to the Western coastal belt including Tripoli

  • Pipelines: Roughly 1,300 km

  • Built to serve: Capital Tripoli and surrounding areas

📍 Phase III (1997–2000s)

  • Goal: Link the eastern and western systems and expand connections to more towns

  • Integration: Unified water grid across major urban and agricultural zones

📍 Phase IV and V (2000s–2011)

  • Enhancements: Construction of additional pipelines, pumping stations, and reservoirs

  • Status: Partially completed due to NATO bombing in 2011, which damaged GMMR facilities and halted work

GMMR PDF (soon more)

Working on more content!

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Other Gaddafi Pages

You will discover a comprehensive collection of speeches and initiatives presented by Muammar Al Gaddafi. This extensive compilation offers valuable insights into his political philosophy, leadership style, and the various initiatives he proposed during his time. Explore these significant works to gain a deeper understanding of his impact and contributions.