Posted on 11 Mar 2010

Nubian Aquifer, Nubian Project

The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) is the world´s largest 'fossil' water aquifer system meaning that the water is ancient and non-renewable, much like the mineral resources on which countries rely for their prosperity. Lying beneath the four African countries of Chad, Egypt, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Libya), and Sudan, it covers some two million square kilometers. Groundwater has been identified as the biggest future source of water to meet growing demands and development goals in each country. But can the NSAS meet such demand? Over-abstraction has already started, at times leading to desertification. Other major human pressures include agricultural irrigation and climate change.

For many years, the IAEA has been working with NSAS countries through national, and regional projects to try and understand the complexities of the aquifer. However, there remains a gap in understanding how the NSAS works. Improving the information base is thus the key first step. In response, the ‘IAEA/UNDP/GEF Nubian Project’ is ground-breaking, cutting-edge and challenging. Most likely, it´s also a new frontier for the world. Project partners include UNDP/GEF, IAEA, UNESCO and the four NSAS countries. Its long-term goal is to establish a rational and equitable management of the NSAS for sustainable socio-economic development and the protection of biodiversity and land resources.

Posted on 11 Mar 2010

New Groundwater Flow Model for Nubian Aquifer

Through the collaboration of all four Nubian countries, a series of modeling workshops, and the efforts of a technical team led by an internationally recognized modeling expert, a new and innovative numerical model has been constructed for the Nubian Aquifer. The model builds on the earlier modeling efforts of Centre for Environment & Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE). The IAEA model features both the increased sophistication of treating the aquifer as a three-dimensional entity as well as several technical aspects which increase the ability of the model to be modified for future use, as more data become available. The model forms a basis on which shared data collection and decision making strategies can be devised across the four Nubian countries.

Caption: Three-dimensional model grid for Nubian Aquifer showing the effects of pumping.

Posted on 11 Mar 2010

National Meetings Conducted for Shared Aquifer Diagnostic Analysis in Egypt, Sudan, and Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

National meetings were held in Khartoum and Cairo in December 2009, and in Tripoli in February 2010. The objectives were to disseminate results of data-collection and modeling efforts on the Nubian project and to solicit comments on the priority threats to the aquifer. The results of the national meetings will be included in national shared aquifer diagnostic analysis (SADA) reports from each country, to be finalized later this spring. These reports will provide the basis for the regional SADA, scheduled for completion by this summer.

Posted on 11 Mar 2010

Libyan National Meeting, Tripoli, 25 February 2010

Stakeholders from water, agricultural, and legal sectors met were hosted by the General Water Authority in a one-day meeting to solicit stakeholder views on both national and transboundary aquifer management issues. IAEA staff presented the results of the recently completed collaborative modeling activities.

Posted on 11 Mar 2010

Egypt National Meeting, Cairo, 17 December 2009

The Research Institute for Groundwater hosted this national meeting of Nubian Aquifer stakeholders. The objectives were to present project findings and conduct a workshop to assess the priority threats and their root causes in the aquifer system. IAEA staff presented an overview of upcoming project activities. Attendees included government ministry and private sector interests from the oasis communities, as well as several national parliamentarians.

Posted on 11 Mar 2010

Sudan National Meeting, Khartoum, 14 December 2009

The Groundwater and Wadis Directorate of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources held this national meeting as a forum for national and transboundary issues in Sudan. Representatives from the States of Darfur, Kordufan, and the Western Desert participated in discussion of the potential impacts of aquifer development in Sudan.

Posted on 11 Mar 2010

Final Modeling Meeting, Vienna, August 2009

This meeting was the culmination of several four-country modeling workshops initiated in 2007. The result is a regional numerical model which simulates groundwater movement in the Nubian Aquifer System and which can be used by member countries to anticipate the regional effects of abstraction from the aquifer. The model was designed to be easily refined to examine the local effects of pumping as well. The model is anticipated to be a key element in the development of the upcoming Strategic Action Programme.

Posted on 11 Mar 2010

Project Steering Committee Meeting, Vienna. 26–27 January 2009

The steering committee, consisting of representatives of each of the four member countries, the IAEA (implementing agency), and the United Nations Development Programme (executing agency), met to discuss the status of project activities, the project budget, and plan activities for the upcoming year.