The phase 3 scope includes, in the first package, the augmentation of the phase 1 water supply through the development of a new wellfield near Kufra and the construction of a 350-kilometre pipeline linking the wellfield into the existing phase 1 pipeline between Tazerbo and Sarir. The new Kufra system pipeline will supply an additional 1.68 million cubic metres a day (cm/d) of water.

The second package covers the development of a new wellfield south of Al-Jaghboub and construction of a 300-kilometre pipeline linking the Al-Jaghboub wellfield with Tobruk. Water flowing at a rate of around 140,000 cm/d will be conveyed to a supply point above the city, and transferred to Tobruk and the coastal strip for drinking water purposes. Canada's SNC Lavalinis preparing to start exploratory drilling work in the Al-Jaghboub area early next year (MEED 23.11.01).

Nippon Koei will draw up preliminary designs for the pipelines, pumping stations, associated structures and the supervisory control and data acquisition systems for both the Kufra and Al-Jaghboub packages. This will involve a comparison of options; carrying out topographical and geotechnical surveys; and preparing technical and tender documentation. The firm expects to invite international contractors to submit proposals for the main detailed design-build contract by about mid-2004.

The selection of a consultant for phase 3 marks a new stage in the $25,000 million water conveyance scheme. The project, on which work began in the early 1980s, has been slowed by the financial collapse earlier this year of the prime contractor on phases 1 and 2, South Korea's Dong Ah Construction Industrial Company(MEED 23:3:01).