Derna desalination plant in Libya re-launched

Derna seawater desalination plant in Libya, which was damaged during the storm that hit the city has been relaunched and back in service

Derna Desalination Plant Project, located in Derna city in eastern part of Libya, was in part of a development plan implemented by General Electricity Company of Libya, in the period of 40th Anniversary preparations of Libyan Leader, to cover high demand of reliable water sources in eastern part of Libya.

Undertaken by ENKA the project consisted of engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and start-up of a 2×20.000 m3/day Water Production Plant with two type of fuel, Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and Light Fuel Oil (LFO), complete with all Balance of Plant (BOP) systems. Heavy fuel oil (HFO) is used as main fuel for MED Desalination Plant operation whereas; light fuel oil (LFO) are used as back-up fuels. The project consists of a redundant sea water intake system of which complete basic and detailed engineering was included in EPC scope of the project.

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Storm impact

The storm caused two dams on the coastal river Wadi Derna to break, which further exacerbated the water-related problems in the region. The upper dam had a storage capacity of 1.5 million cubic meters, while the lower dam could hold 22.5 million cubic meters of water. The flooding from these dam failures had a devastating impact on the area.

This development which was restarted by the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) is crucial for the 320,000 people in Derna who rely on the plant for their water supply. Prior to the restoration of the desalination plant, the population in Derna was exposed to various health risks due to the lack of access to clean water. These risks included diarrhoea, cholera, dehydration, and malnutrition, particularly affecting children. The number of cases of poisoning from unsafe water had increased significantly during this period.

In response to the crisis in Derna, the humanitarian response has been intensified. The National Centre for Disease Control declared a state of emergency for an entire year in the flood-affected regions of eastern Libya due to the increased health risks.