Filenews 15 November 2024 - by Angelos Nicolaou
With up to 10 new desalination plants, the government is attempting to address the phenomena of water scarcity and drought that are emerging in Cyprus, due to the prolonged drought that prevails in recent years and has significantly reduced water reserves. Moreover, pressures from climate change, increased demand due to socio-economic development, as well as outdated and inadequate infrastructure to meet needs, have magnified the problem, which must be treated as a crisis.
Actions that include the upgrading of water infrastructure, water saving and the utilization of alternative sources were approved yesterday by the Council of Ministers, adopting a proposal submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and includes an integrated plan that extends to the short, medium and long term. Maria Panayiotou referred to the program and as she pointed out, it includes 28 targeted actions, of which 7 are immediate, 8 are medium-term and 13 are long-term.
The immediate and medium-term actions aim to address the upcoming water scarcity crisis in the years 2025-2026 and are expected to boost the water balance by more than 15 million. cub. meters annually, or 15% of the total quantity of water provided by the Water Development Department (WDD) in 2023 for water supply purposes all over Cyprus. In 2025, among others, the utilization of 4 boreholes for irrigation purposes, improvement of the water supply of communities by utilizing 20 boreholes and repair or construction of new infrastructure such as water reservoirs, the increase of drinking water production from the Dhekelia Desalination Plant, awareness campaigns to reduce water waste in households, as the involvement of citizens is crucial for the successful reduction of waste, Improvement of irrigation departments by doubling the available budget from €200,000 per year to €400,000 per year, reducing water supply network losses and wastage, as well as installing mobile desalination plants.
So far, it has been decided to locate 4 mobile desalination plants and efforts are being made to find other areas. According to WDD estimates, their cost is estimated at €66.4 million with a total production of 41 million cub meters drinking water measures for the five-year period 2025-2030. It is noted that these units will operate and remain permanently in the Republic of Cyprus.
As "F" is aware, the utilization of boreholes of the Limassol District Organization (EDA) in the Garyllis river bed for denitrification of brackish water with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters / day is being promoted with the cost reaching € 3,400,000 and if all goes well it will be operational in October 2025. In addition, the second mobile unit will be installed in the area of Limassol Port belonging to the Cyprus Ports Authority for desalination of sea water with a capacity of 5,000 cubic meters / day with the possibility of expanding to 10,000 cubic meters / day at a total cost of €4,200,000. Furthermore, a mobile unit is being promoted at the EAC Station in Moni for the desalination of sea water with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters / day at a cost of €6,700,000. A fourth mobile unit is being promoted near the Pafos Marina construction site for sea water desalination with a capacity of 5,000 cubic meters / day with the possibility of expansion to 10,000 cubic meters / day at a cost of € 4,500,000. The site is state land which has been reserved for the construction of Pafos Marina. According to the Department of Town Planning and Housing, the consent of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism for the installation of the desalination plant in this area must be secured and the unit is scheduled to operate in February 2026, unlike the other 3 that are estimated to be operational next October.
It is noted that other additional positions are still being found. Possible location sites under investigation is the installation of a mobile desalination plant in Larnaka within the port area. Also, a specific area has been identified that constitutes state land for the installation of a mobile desalination plant in the free province of Famagusta. However, according to the maritime spatial plan, the area in which the marine pipeline of the unit should be installed is characterized as a Natura 2000 network area, so there should be a relevant consultation with the Department of Environment.
Thoughts on new units in 5-6 years in Moni, Dhekelia, Mazotos and considered and free province of Famagusta
WDD promotes long-term actions through the Action Plan. Specifically, the upgrade/expansion of five existing permanent desalination plants (MMA) currently managed by the WDD is being promoted, while promoting the possibility of utilizing RES to cover part of their energy needs. Today operating: Paphos with a capacity of 15.000 cubic meters / day, Episkopi with a capacity of 40.000 cubic meters / day, Larnaka with a capacity of 60.000 cubic meters / day, EAC Vasilikos with a capacity of 60.000 cubic meters / day and Dhekelia with a capacity of 60.000 cubic meters / day. The aim of these upgrades is to increase the capacity of the above units by up to 50% compared to the initial provision, which will lead to a further increase in the water balance from 10 million. up to 40 million cub. meters per year.
Also, the WDD has included in the long-term measures of the Action Plan the construction of two additional permanent desalination plants which will be implemented as Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects and in which energy needs from RES are promoted. One unit is being promoted in East Limassol at the site of the EAC Station in Moni, with a capacity of 60,000 cubic meters / day with the possibility of expansion to 80,000 cubic meters / day. And one in Dhekelia opposite the site of the existing unit for replacement purposes, with a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters / day with the possibility of expansion to 100,000 cubic meters / day. It is noted that the WDD is in the process of investigating additional suitable location locations in order to operate a total of 7 permanent desalination plants.
Steps are being taken to find a suitable site in the free province of Famagusta for the construction of a 60,000 cubic meters / day unit with the possibility of expansion by 20,000 cubic meters / day, but due to large developments and maritime spatial planning, finding space is more difficult. Nevertheless, an area has been identified in the community of Mazotos for the construction of a desalination plant, which is prima facie positively evaluated and the application procedures for securing the land have progressed. It is noted that an investigation has been carried out in various areas of both Larnaka and Famagusta districts in order to identify a suitable area of approximately 30,000sq.m.
