No Result
View All Result
Monday, July 7, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

After the Derna dams disaster, dams in Benghazi and Sirte receive attention

bySami Zaptia
September 22, 2023
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
After the Derna dams disaster, dams in Benghazi and Sirte receive attention

Benghazi's Gattara dam. After the Derna dams' disaster that contributed to the deaths of thousands and huge infrastructure destruction, dams are now receiving attention, including the possibility of hydroelectric energy from them (Photo: Benghazi Municipality).

After the Storm Daniel destruction and deaths in Derna that have led to at least 4,000 deaths and 40,000 displaced and an estimated 10,000 still missing (most of whom are unofficially presumed dead), dams in Benghazi and Sirte received attention. The huge deaths and destruction in Derna have been, initially at least, attributed to the failure of Derna’s two dams. The dams had needed maintenance but were overlooked.

Benghazi Municipality announced Wednesday that its Acting Chairman, Sagr Bujwari, issued Resolution No. 91 of 2023 regarding the formation of a municipal committee responsible for identifying all encroachments on the Wadi Al-Gattara river valley as soon as possible.

The Al-Gattara Dam
The Al-Gattara dam is located 33 km east of Benghazi. The Benghazi area was damaged by floods in 1938 and 1954 before two dams were constructed. Construction of the dams began in 1968 and was completed in 1971. However, a flood in 1979 severely damaged the main dam and destroyed the secondary dam downstream. The main clay-filled dam was rehabilitated, and the secondary dam was replaced with a rock-fill dam between 2000 and 2004. The main dam was heightened 7 m and its total discharge capacity was increased to 240 m3/s. Both dams were designed by French company Coyne et Bellier.

According to the Benghazi municipality’s Media Office, the committee is headed by the Director of the Benghazi State Property Authority Office, and the membership of the Director of the Eastern Region Branch of the Ministry of Water Resources, the Coordinator of the Agriculture and Livestock Sector, and the head of the Operations and emergency room.

Obstacles removed from river’s path
The Media Office noted that the municipality has taken several measures aimed at removing obstacles in the path of Wadi Al Gattara. This included cleaning it and expanding it in coordination with the Eastern Region Branch of the Ministry of Water Resources and the competent security authorities in order to ensure public safety and public and private property from any dangers that may occur.

RELATED POSTS

National Development Agency signs two strategic agreements with UAE’s Global Builders for Sirte projects

First commercial ship arrives at Derna Port – after Hurricane Daniel disaster of 2023

Benghazi’s Wadi Jaza Dam continues to be cleaned and emptied
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Reconstruction and Stability Committee reported that its engineers confirmed that the companies in charge of emptying another dam, the Wadi Jaza Dam, are continuing their work and are still cleaning the valley’s river path.

Water level decreased
The engineers confirmed that work is continuing for the seventh day in a row according to the schedule prepared by the team on the flow of water from the dam to the valley stream, confirming that the water level from the dam has decreased by 7.35 meters, with a quantity of water estimated at 5.320 million cubic metres.

Eight kms cleaned, dam was subject to vandalism and theft
The engineers indicated that the work of cleaning the valley stream is continuing, having cleaned 8 kilometres out of a total of 12 kilometres, in addition to the repair work of the main gate/valve of the dam, which was subjected to acts of theft and vandalism, during which the hydraulic equipment, the oil tank, and the electricity system were stolen.

Sirte activates dam and drainage channel projects

In the same vein, a meeting was held Wednesday at the Sirte Municipal Office, which included the Mayor of Sirte Municipality, Mukhtar Al-Ma’dani, the Director of the Egyptian Arab Contractors Company’s Libya Branch, and the Director of the Planning Department at the Government’s Ministry of Water Resources.

Four dams need attention
The meeting was devoted to taking urgent coordination measures with the government’s Ministry of Water Resources regarding activating Sirte’s dam and drainage channel projects according to previous proposals. Sirte has four dams that need work, it reported. All sites were visited on the ground and immediate measures were taken to activate these projects with the competent authorities.

Obstacles to implementation of dams identified
During the meeting, the obstacles to the implementation of dams were also acknowledged by identifying the farms, trees, and citizens’ property that stand in the way of implementing projects to protect the dams and the water drainage channel. These were referred to the competent authorities for compensation.

Dams need maintenance to avoid threat to life
The Mayor of Sirte Municipality appealed to the Tripoli Ministry of Water Resources to maintain the dams in Sirte Municipality because they are dilapidated and need maintenance and may pose a danger to the city. He called for the rapid maintenance and support of the dams to avoid any emergency that threatens the collapse of the dams to preserve lives.

 

Public Service Company clears Wadi Mejeneen valley, Ministry inspects valley (libyaherald.com)

Greater Tripoli Municipalities discuss the region’s main river valley, sound alarm of possible disaster (libyaherald.com)

 

Tags: dam damsDerna Storm DanielGattara dam BenghaziSirte

Related Posts

Libya Herald exclusive: Responding to the prime minister’s call yesterday to the private sector and banks to do more, leading businessman Husni Bey responds
Business

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

July 2, 2025
Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg
Libya

Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg

June 27, 2025
MoI establishes Elections Security and Protection Department
Libya

Aldabaiba and Menfi stress use of polling feedback to establish consensus basis for constitutional process: report and analysis

June 26, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

“There is no state built by gangs and criminality, it’s built by engineers, youth, consultants, security, police and army”: Aldabaiba

June 23, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

187 new security posts taken over from militias – PM declares victory for the state as all vital Tripoli sites come under its exclusive control for the first time since 2011

June 19, 2025
Interior Ministry’s Diplomatic Missions Protection personnel receiving training in Ukraine
Libya

The Interior Ministry had spent LD 50 billion in 13 years with no result: Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi

June 17, 2025
Next Post
Providing psychosocial support to the thousands affected by Storm Daniel is a priority: UN

Providing psychosocial support to the thousands affected by Storm Daniel is a priority: UN

Al-Ruqaii seizure violates human rights, says Amnesty International

Eastern Libya authorities must lift restrictions on journalists: Amnesty International

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Libya Herald exclusive: Responding to the prime minister’s call yesterday to the private sector and banks to do more, leading businessman Husni Bey responds

    Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • All imports into Libya must be paid for through official bank transactions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • CBL demands imports are conducted through official banking instruments and the elimination of the FX black market

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libya’s economy showed recovery in 2024, remained resilient despite reliance on hydrocarbons and ongoing political and security instability: World Bank

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A 247,000-bpd oil production increase would achieve US$ 6 billion annually to enhance ability to meet FX demand, maintain strength of LD and achieve economic balance: CBL ‎

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

A 247,000-bpd oil production increase would achieve US$ 6 billion annually to enhance ability to meet FX demand, maintain strength of LD and achieve economic balance: CBL ‎

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.