Filenews 28 January 2025 - by Angelos Nicolaou
The Ministry of Agriculture is looking for a way out even in floating desalination plants to address the problem of prolonged drought that prevails on the island in recent years and has significantly reduced water reserves to 25% of dam capacity.
In order to address the upcoming water scarcity crisis both this year and next, the Water Development Department (WDD) is making moves in two directions, essentially examining options for new desalination plants: First, the operation of coastal desalination plants, i.e. units operating on ships and barges, in close proximity to the coast, is being examined. Secondly, the possibility of operating desalination plants on land, i.e. plants operating on land, in close proximity to the sea, is being examined.
According to information provided by "F", the WDD is conducting a preliminary consultation with the market, with a view to the supply of desalinated water. Essentially, the WDD acts in accordance with article 37 of the Regulation of Public Procurement Procedures and related matters Law of 2016 [Law 73(I)/2016], to investigate the available options for the purchase of drinking water produced by desalination plants. The consultation shall inform economic operators of the conclusion of a contract for the supply of desalinated water, taking into account any production capacity.
The WDD shall invite economic operators to express their interest by submitting a description of their proposal, which should include at least the following:
For floating units: the type of vessel (ship, barge, other), the capacity of the installation in m²/hour, the specifications of the water produced, the time of implementation of the contract after reaching an agreement.
For onshore units: the location of the plant, the capacity of the facility in m²/hour, the specifications of the water produced, the time of implementation of the contract after reaching an agreement.
Based on the expression of interest for floating and onshore desalination plants, the most appropriate procurement method will be selected, using credits that will allow the evaluation of parameters such as water delivery start time, cost of desalinated water, delivery location, water needs in the proposed area, works required to connect to the WDD network, etc.
The economic operators concerned must have preliminary indications of the quality of the seawater and the quality of desalinated water required to be fit for human consumption. The water produced by the desalination plant must comply with Law 46(I)/2023 (Council Directive EEC No. 2020/2184) on the quality of water intended for human consumption.
Furthermore, due to the problems in the district of Pafos, which is supplied with water for water supply purposes from the desalination plant in Kouklia (destroyed by fire) and from the dams of Asprokremmos and Kanavious, it is expected that within days the WDD will proceed with a tender for the implementation of a mobile desalination plant project in the sea area of the community of Kissonerga of the Municipality of Akamas with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters / day. For the WDD, the implementation time of the Contract is considered essential and critical. It therefore wishes to see the earliest possible installation of the necessary infrastructure and its entry into operation for the immediate production and distribution of drinking water. The WDD will examine the possibility of including in the terms of the contract, an earlier construction bonus.
