<p>The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) underlies the countries of Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan, the total population of which is over 136 million. It is the world’s largest ‘fossil’ water aquifer system.</p>
<p>The project scope involves:</p>
<ul>
<li>Developing a standard mechanism for monitoring the development of the aquifer</li>
<li>Capacity building/ training for field investigations/monitoring of groundwater in four countries</li>
<li>Creating a legislative framework for attaining principles of cooperation and equitable utilization</li>
<li>Developing framework for the implementation of the regional strategy for utilization of the NSAS</li>
</ul>
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<p>The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) underlies the countries of Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan, the total population of which is over 136 million. It is the world's largest ‘fossil' water aquifer system stretching over approximately 2.6 million square km in Northeast Africa. Fresh groundwater reserves in the aquifer system is estimated at 372,950 billion cubic metre (BCM), out of which only 3.9% is recoverable with present?day technology. The riparian countries sharing the aquifer system face similar problems of arid climate, scarce surface water resources, persistent droughts and fragile ecosystems. The aquifer is a critically important source of water in this arid desert region and will be increasingly in demand in the future. Hence, all four countries have given priority to linking the NSAS groundwater exploitation to national development strategies and plans. Growing pressures on the aquifer system pose threats to both the quantity and quality of the resource and could, if not appropriately managed, lead to transboundary/shared problems and tension.</p>
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