Libya Water & Wastewater

A Brief Sector Overview

British Water Seminar, London 5th March 2013

Khaled El Mayet

Introduction
Libyas annual water usage exceeds 5 billion cubic metres (m) per annum (approximately 85% for agriculture, 13% domestic usage and 2% for industry). However only 8% of Libya gets above 50mm of rainfall per annum with the maximum in the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains) reaching 550mm per annum.

97% of Libyas capacity comes from underground water with sea-water desalination accounting for less than 100 million m per annum and surface water contributing around 30 million m.

Structure Key Stakeholders

Ministry of Water Resources
General Water Authority (GWA) responsible for surface water building and operating Dams. National Desalination Company (NDC) Manmade River Organisation (no longer Great!)

Ministry of Housing & Utilities National Water & Wastewater Company (NWWC) Housing & Infrastructure Board (HIB)

The National Centre for Standards (NCS) applies standards, water supply and sanitation. The Environmental General Authority (EGA) monitors water quality

The National Water Supply Plan

In 1999 Libya developed a 25 year (2000 2025) strategic development plan for National water supply with the aim of generating sustainable development and preserving reserves.
The strategic plan was accepted in 2005 leading to the establishment of the: Housing & Infrastructure Board (HIB), the National Desalination Company (NDC) and the National Water & Wastewater Company (NWWC). The plans were updated in 2008 when the Ministry of Water, Electricity & Gas (the responsible Ministry at the time) appointed Booz Allen Hamilton to prepare a master plan for domestic water supply in Libya. Further to this in 2009 the Ministry of Water, Electricity & Gas made an agreement with FAO to update the 2000 2025 strategy.

The majority of these strategic plans dating back to the original 1999 document although widely referenced have not been implemented.

The Ministry of Water Resources

The newly established Ministry of Water Resources reflects the core importance and consideration Libyas new interim government have given to water as part of the countries development plans.

It is expected that the new Ministry will revisit and look to update existing strategic plans. However the Ministry is currently pre-occupied with administrative issues including recruitment and find new offices (they are currently housed within the offices of the GWA) The Minister of Water Resources Elhadi Suleiman Hinsheer, (61) has a formidable track record in the local industry holding a bachelors degree in geological science from Tripoli University (1975), he has more than 30 years experience in the sector having worked in exploration, with the Ministry of Damns and Water Resources and in managerial positions within the NWWC.

Demand Management vs. Supply

Future strategy should focus on water management, paying attention to demand management rather than focusing on increasing supply. Domestic per capita usage in Libya is high at 350 litres per day compared to an international average on 250 litres). A large amount of water supplied through pipe networks is lost due to leakage therefore reducing water losses in networks is an important factor in increasing supply.

The Manmade River (MMR)

The MMR formerly the Great Manmade River has come under the wing of the Ministry of Water Resources. The MMR is a 4,000 km network of pipelines linking large underground aquifers at Kufra, Murzuq and Sarir to Libyas coastal towns and cities, accounts for more than 60% (1.6 million m per day) to Libyas total water requirements. Since the project began in the early 1980s it has cost the government more than $20bn. Many major cities and towns are connected to the MMR including Ajdabia, Benghazi, Sirte, Misurata, Zliten, Garabouly, Tripoli, Bani Walid and Ghariyan. The MMR still needs to be connected to other areas including the Nafousa Mountains (West of Tripoli).

Desalination
Libyas National Desalination Company which owns and operates desalination plants nationwide is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Water Resources with Headquarters in Benghazi. Total production from seawater desalination is less than 250,000 m per day which is less than 100 million m per annum. Previously plans were drafted to add 1 million m per day to the existing desalination capacity in Libya with major plants planned for Tripoli and Benghazi on a Build Own Operation basis, however nothing has been concluded.

Desalination Active Plants

Tobruk 40,000 m per day active (40,000 m offline) Al Marj 40,000 m per day active (40,000 m additional capacity not commissioned) Soussa 10,000 m per day active (30,000 m offline) Boumba Khaleej (East of Derna) 5,000 m (capacity of 30,000 m reduced due to age)

Zliten 15,000 m per day (capacity 30,000 m)

Zwara 40,000 m per day (40,000 m additional capacity not commissioned) Zawia (80,000 m per day waiting for power generation station to be commissioned).

National Water & Wastewater Company (NWWC)

The NWWC is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Housing & Infrastructure. Its Headquarters are in Tripoli but it also maintains a number of regional offices. The NWWC is responsible for operation and maintenance of all water and wastewater facilities for domestic supplies and services (it is not responsible for agricultural applications which are provided by the Manmade River or other ground wells, or industrial applications which utilise ground water and desalination for power generation). The NWWC has recently been given responsibility for connecting supply from the Manmade River acting as the contracting body for connecting the MMR network to residential networks in cities, towns and villages.

National Water & Wastewater Company (NWWC)

The NWWC employs approximately 18,000 people, maintaining a 35,000 km water network with 8,000 km of wastewater and storm water networking and approximately 1,800 water wells, 350 water pumping stations, 150 wastewater and storm water pumping stations and over 1,000 elevated and underground water tanks. The NWWC is also responsible for more than 40 wastewater treatment plants ranging from small regional plants with a capacity of 2,000 3,000 m per day up to the Tripoli which has a capacity of 40,000 m in Phase 1 and 110,000 m in Phase 2 (commissioned in 1986 and revamped in 2005).

Regional Distribution Local Focus

It is expected that once the Local Government Law (2012) is implemented Local councils will be given more control over management of water resources and implementation of projects. This may have structural implications for the NWWC in terms of decentralising the decision making processes and project implementation.

This may mean that local authorities will seek to engage directly with contractors and service providers.

Housing & Infrastructure Board (HIB)

The Housing & Infrastructure Board which comes under the remit of the Ministry of Housing & Utilities is responsible for executing infrastructure projects for urban communities and new housing projects including water and wastewater infrastructure. HIB has a portfolio of projects worth over LYD 3bn, including major housing projects, however the majority of utility projects have not yet been contracted.

Opportunities
Infrastructure for water networking Public Private Partnerships with local authorities Wastewater networking Storm water networking for coastal cities Pumping stations for water, wastewater and storm water Wastewater treatment plants Desalination HR capacity building and training