Filenews 1 November 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
An extensive package of projects to address the water scarcity that affects Cyprus due to the prolonged drought, was approved by the Council of Ministers, following a proposal by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou. The decision includes the siting of two new permanent desalination units, the installation of three new mobile units, as well as the examination of a new unit in Protaras. At the same time, three additional areas are being evaluated for the construction of new permanent desalination plants in the future.
The total expenditure for the purchase of desalinated water in 2026 is expected to reach €140 million, a record amount that reflects the criticality of the situation and the State's shift to ensuring water sufficiency for water supply needs, ensuring the use of dams for irrigation.
The adverse scenarios for 2026 predict significant shortages in the districts of Limassol, Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta, areas served by the Single Southern Pipeline Plan (ESNA). On the contrary, in Paphos, where a permanent desalination plant is already operating and the full operation of a mobile unit is expected, no deficits are foreseen.
The first permanent unit will be built in East Limassol. The plant will have a capacity of 60,000 – 80,000 cubic meters per day and will meet the needs of the rapidly developing urban area of Limassol, which is currently heavily dependent on natural resources, such as the Kouris dam and drilling, as the existing unit in Episkopi is not sufficient to meet the needs.
The second permanent unit is planned to be built in Dhekelia, strengthening the self-sufficiency of the province, which in recent years has relied significantly on existing desalination and drilling. Essentially, this unit concerns a project to replace the existing unit in Dhekelia, the contract of which expires in 2027 and it is considered that due to its age, it is advantageous to completely replace it, instead of upgrading it. This unit will have a capacity of 80,000 – 100,000 cubic meters per day and will cover the current and future needs of the free province of Famagusta and part of the province of Larnaca.
After the finalization of the location of the permanent desalination plants in free Famagusta and East Limassol and the preliminary studies with the aim of operating the units at the end of 2029 will begin within the year. These units will also operate with RES.
In the meantime and until January 2026, all 4 projects related to the installation and operation of mobile desalination plants (including those received from the UAE and put into operation in record time, in just 3 months) will be installed and fully operational, which will be added to the system daily quantities of water amounting to 47,000 cubic meters. Specifically, by January 2026, all 4 mobile desalination plant projects announced in March 2025 (Moni, Limassol Port, Kissonerga, Garyllis) will be fully operational. At the same time, three new sites are under evaluation for the installation of additional permanent desalination plants, with the aim of meeting the growing needs.
Three new mobile desalination plants
The WDD is also launching the installation of three new mobile desalination plants, with the aim of being operational before the summer of 2026. Each unit will have a minimum capacity of 10,000 cubic meters of water per day and will operate for a period of five years.
The new units will be installed:
- In Episkopi (Municipality of Kourion), within the administrative boundaries of the British Bases, close to the existing Limassol unit. The tender has already been announced since September 30. At the end of November, the start of the contract is expected with the duration of implementation set at 6 months with an early delivery bonus from 4 months.
- At the EAC Power Plant in Vasiliko, where it will operate in addition to the existing permanent desalination plant. The unit will have a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters. daily. The goal is to announce the tender within November, so that the unit can operate in the summer of 2026.
- In the free province of Famagusta, with priority given to the installation of a mobile unit in Ayia Napa with a capacity of at least 10,000 cubic meters. per day and then in Paralimni – Deryneia, in order to strengthen the water supply of the tourist area of Protaras.
The WDD will consider at a later stage the possibility of permanent utilization of the mobile units or the need to expand their capacity and duration of operation per province, depending on the results of the upcoming Feasibility Study for desalination projects.
With the full operation of all 7 mobile units (the 3 new ones that will be put into operation by the summer of 2026 and the 4 existing ones), 77,000 cubic meters per day will be added to the system, i.e. more than what the two permanent desalination plants of Vasilikos and Paphos produce. With these quantities, the quantities obtained from desalination increase by more than 32%. Therefore, the goal is achievable within a few months, to achieve a significant increase in water supply, and to now cover it to 100% by desalinated water. Today, the water production from the 5 permanent units amounts to 235,000 cubic meters. water per day and cover 70% of water supply needs.
Tragic water reserves in the dams - Below 10% occupancy in Kouris
According to data from the Department of Water Development (WDD), reserves in dams have fallen to 10.8% of capacity, compared to 25.9% in the same period last year. In the Kouris dam, the largest in Cyprus, the occupancy rate is only 9.8%, which makes it necessary to immediately strengthen the water balance with new desalination projects, considering that in the corresponding period last year the occupancy reached 23.5%.
The Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panayiotou, presenting the proposal to the Council of Ministers, stressed that "Cyprus is facing the most serious water shortage in recent decades" and that the approved projects "ensure the sufficiency of water for water supply and irrigation, without the need for restrictions". As he said, "the government is proceeding with a plan, speed and respect for the environment, utilizing every technological and financial tool."
With dam reserves at historic lows and rainfall scenarios uncertain, 2026 is set to be a landmark year for the management of Cyprus' water resources. New desalination projects, both permanent and mobile, are considered key to the long-term security of water supply and are the largest investment of the state in this sector in the last decade.
