Lost lake: How Africa’s Lake Chad nearly disappeared and a $50 billion engineering plan to restore it | World News
Once one of Africa’s largest inland water bodies, Lake Chad has lost approximately 90% of its surface area since the 1960s, causing millions of people to face the loss of their fishing, agricultural and livestock livelihoods. This decline is linked to changing climate patterns, increased water demand and expansion of irrigated areas. Now, a decades-old proposal called Transaqua is bringing new attention to the lake’s future. The ambitious plan, first proposed by Italian engineers in 1982, proposed building a 2,400-kilometer-long canal to carry water from the Congo River Basin to Lake Chad, at an estimated cost of billions of dollars. Supporters see it as a possible revitalization project, while critics warn it faces environmental and practical challenges.
How Africa’s Lake Chad lost most of its water
Lake Chad has experienced one of the most dramatic environmental changes in Africa. According to the BBC, the lake has lost about 90% of its surface area since the mid-20th century, although the exact size has varied over time, depending on rainfall patterns and seasonal changes.This decline is not due to a single cause. Increasing demand for water, expanding irrigation projects, growing populations and changing climate conditions are putting pressure on lake systems. The rivers that once regularly supplied it with water have become increasingly unreliable, while communities around the basin continue to rely on dwindling resources.The impact is being felt across the region, with millions of people dependent on agriculture, fishing and livestock. A region once known for its fertile fields and busy fishing markets has become increasingly difficult to make a living.“We used to pass cornfields on the way to the lake, and there were a lot of boats bobbing on the water and a huge fish market,” said Bale Bura, who grew up around the lake in the 1970s and now works for the Lake Chad Fishermen’s Association.
2,400-kilometer proposal that could reshape Lake Chad’s future
According to reports, Italian engineering company Bonifica Spa first proposed a proposal to revive Lake Chad through a large-scale water diversion project in the early 1980s.The plan, known as Transaqua, will involve building a canal stretching some 2,400 kilometers from a tributary of the Congo River system to the Chari River, Lake Chad’s main water source.The project aims to divert part of the Congo Basin’s water north while creating a network of dams that can generate electricity along the route. Engineers behind the proposal believe the extra water could help restore the lake and create new opportunities for agriculture and infrastructure development.When these plans were circulated among African governments and international financial organizations in the 1980s, they received little response. The project’s scale, cost and political challenges involved meant the idea remained largely untouched for decades. For years, Transaqua existed more as an engineering concept than a realistic proposal.
How falling Lake Chad levels could spark a wider crisis
Shrinking lakes impact communities already mired in poverty and limited opportunity. In many villages, young people have fewer ways to make a living as farmland dwindles and fishing becomes more difficult.The environment has also changed with the rise of extremist groups in the region, including Boko Haram. The lake’s disappearance is not thought to be the sole cause of the conflict, but the loss of livelihoods has allowed armed groups to recruit new members among frustrated and vulnerable communities.During a visit to northeastern Nigeria in 2014, it was reported that signs of neglect could be seen around settlements near Lake Chad. Abandoned projects, damaged buildings and communities living in fear reflect years of instability. Residents spoke of a lack of jobs and opportunities for young people. For some, leaving home or joining an armed group appears to be one of the few options.
A costly vision to reshape Africa’s water landscape
At a meeting focused on the future of Lake Chad, governments and engineers reconsidered the Transaqua proposal as a possible long-term solution.The cost is expected to be huge, running into tens of billions of dollars, according to the BBC. The proposed funding effort is intended to support broader Lake Chad restoration plans while requiring engineering firms to check whether the project can actually be built.The Italian company behind the concept worked with Chinese engineering experts to evaluate the plans. Supporters argue that the transfer would represent only a small portion of the Congo River’s total flow and would not necessarily interfere with other major hydropower goals in the region.The proposed canal would be a major piece of infrastructure that could include road and rail connections along the waterway. Supporters say it could support agricultural, transportation and industrial development along the route.Environmental groups have raised concerns about changes to the Congo Basin, one of the world’s most important river systems. Moving water between ecosystems on such a large scale can have unpredictable consequences.
Looking for the future of lakes
The debate over Lake Chad reflects broader challenges in a region where climate pressures and human needs collide. Restoring the lake is not just a matter of moving water. It is also about managing existing resources, improving local economies and addressing conditions that make communities vulnerable.For people around the basin, these changes have become part of daily life. Farmers have watched growing areas disappear, fishermen have traveled farther in search of catch, and communities have adapted to a landscape that no longer resembles what older generations remembered.Whether Transaqua’s vision becomes a reality remains uncertain. The project is one of the most ambitious attempts ever to reshape Africa’s major water systems, but its future depends on funding, collaboration and careful evaluation.For now, Lake Chad remains a symbol of environmental loss and the struggle to find solutions on a changing continent.
