The Ministry of Water Resources in Libya, tasked with the upkeep of the Derna dams, has been rendered ineffective due to an ongoing conflict between its head and deputy, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The deputy minister, who also leads an armed group, has reportedly stationed armed men to block the minister from accessing his office. In retaliation, the minister has requested the Central Bank to freeze accounts typically used for water projects.
The report suggests that there was a brief window of opportunity for dam maintenance in Libya following the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) after Khalifa Haftar’s unsuccessful attempt to take over Tripoli. However, no progress was made in dam maintenance. Even if funds were available, it is uncertain whether any would be allocated for dam repairs.
The Wall Street Journal also reviewed a copy of the government’s 2022 general budget and found no allocation of funds for the Ministry of Water Resources’ developmental projects. The newspaper conducted interviews with local officials and engineers responsible for dam maintenance and reviewed official documents, including Audit Bureau reports. The findings revealed a pattern of mismanagement extending from Gaddafi’s regime to the present.
In 2003, the General Authority for Water Resources sought advice on Derna’s dams from Miguel Stucky, a Swiss-based dam engineer. Stucky recommended strengthening the existing two dams, constructing a third dam, and discharging dams to prevent floods.
However, the Libyan government has been slow to implement Stucky’s proposals, with work on the dam repeatedly halted. The newspaper noted that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi suspended payments for major infrastructure projects amid a power struggle between Gaddafi’s sons and the Libyan government at that time.
Source: Wall Street Journal
