In response to worsening water scarcity driven by prolonged droughts and climate change, the Government of Cyprus has approved a comprehensive strategy to expand its desalination capacity, informs In-Cyprus. The plan, endorsed by the Council of Ministers, includes immediate, medium-term, and long-term measures to address the escalating water crisis, with a goal to boost water supply by more than 15 million cubic metres annually.
Four mobile desalination units have been approved to provide quick relief:
- Limassol’s Garyllis River Bed, with a daily production of 10,000 cubic metres and a cost of €3.4 million;
- Limassol Port, with a daily production of 5,000–10,000 cubic metres and a cost of €4.2 million;
- EAC Moni Power Station, with a daily production of 10,000 cubic metres and a cost of €6.7 million;
- Paphos Marina Area, with a daily production of 5,000–10,000 cubic metres daily and a cost of €4.5 million.
Additional locations in Larnaca port and Famagusta are being evaluated for similar facilities. These units, with a combined projected production of 41 million cubic metres of water between 2025 and 2030, are part of a total €66.4 million investment.
The long-term solutions comprise upgrading five existing permanent desalination plants to increase their capacity by up to 50%, and two new permanent plants, planned at Moni and Dhekelia through public-private partnerships. In addition, the Water Development Department is studying potential sites in Mazotos and free Famagusta.
Furthermore, beyond desalination, the government plans to use boreholes for irrigation, improve water supply infrastructure, and promote public awareness campaigns to reduce domestic water waste.
This ambitious initiative underscores the government’s commitment to addressing water scarcity challenges and ensuring sustainable water management for the future.
