Al Gaddafi | The Great Man Made River - PHASE 4 & 5 

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Great Man Made River Project

🏗️ Phase IV & V Objectives and Achievements (2000–2011)

✅ Key Enhancements Completed or Near Completion

• Expansion of Pipelines
  Over 1,000 km of new pipeline segments were laid to connect smaller towns and expand water delivery to underserved regions.

• New Pumping Stations
  Multiple large-scale pumping stations were constructed and tested, including those intended to support Phase I and Phase II systems, with upgrades to allow for deeper water extraction and longer transport routes.

• Reservoir Expansion
  Construction of additional concrete-lined holding reservoirs near Sabha, Sirte, and western agricultural zones was underway, with some operational by 2010.

• Automation & Monitoring
  Introduction of SCADA systems (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) for centralized monitoring of water flow and pressure levels.

• Agricultural Integration Projects
  Pilot farms and irrigation zones, especially in Fezzan and parts of the Sahel belt, had been connected to the GMMR by late 2010.

NATO Bombings and Infrastructure Damage (2011)

In 2011, during the NATO-led military intervention in Libya, critical parts of the GMMR system were bombed, including civilian infrastructure—prompting international concern.

❌ Confirmed Destruction

• Brega Pipe Factory Bombed (July 22, 2011)
  NATO airstrikes destroyed the pipe manufacturing plant in Brega, the only facility in Libya producing the large concrete pipes used in the GMMR project.
  This was a strategic and irreversible loss, halting further expansion and maintenance capacity.

• Pumping Stations Targeted
  Satellite and media reports indicate that at least one major pumping station (associated with Phase II/IV systems) near Al Jufrah was damaged or disabled.

• Collateral Damage to Pipe Routes
  Reports from engineers and UN-affiliated organizations later documented damage to segments of pipeline near Sabha and Sirte due to both aerial bombardment and ground fighting.

• Civilian Workers Killed
  Reports confirmed casualties among GMMR maintenance and engineering staff, including during the Brega factory strike.

Note: NATO claimed the bombings were aimed at military targets, alleging the use of the factory for military purposes—claims not substantiated by independent observers.

🔧 Current Status (as of 2025)

Despite extensive damage during the war and political instability since:

• Much of the core GMMR infrastructure is still functional, especially older Phase I and II routes supplying major cities like Tripoli, Benghazi, and Misrata.

• Water delivery has been intermittent in some regions due to maintenance difficulties, sabotage, power outages, and lack of spare parts.

• Libyan engineers, working with limited support, have continued to keep parts of the GMMR operational despite the lack of international aid.

• Repair work has been occasionally funded by local councils, private sector players, or interim governments, but a nationwide restoration remains stalled due to continued instability and fragmentation of governance.

🧾 Conclusion

Phases IV and V of the GMMR were Libya's most advanced attempt to modernize and complete the dream of water independence. The destruction of critical infrastructure during the NATO intervention in 2011—particularly the Brega Pipe Factory—crippled Libya’s ability to finish or maintain this monumental project.

As of 2025, the GMMR still supplies millions with water, a testament to the original engineering and ambition behind it, but it operates at reduced capacity, with significant long-term vulnerabilities.

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