An important step for the final solution of the water problem of Limassol is the promotion of the new permanent desalination plant in the community of Monagroulli with a capacity of 60,000 cubic litres per day. The project is now on track for implementation, as the Ministry of Agriculture submitted a proposal for the approval of the expropriation and requisition of the required land.
The implementation of the project passes through the expropriation of private land with a total area of approximately 45,447 square meters in the community of Monagroulli. According to the official estimate of the Department of Lands and Surveys, the cost of the compensations amounts to €1,455,000. The location of the unit has already been approved by the Council of Ministers and is located near the existing Wastewater Treatment Plant of the IOA Limassol.
The Water Development Department (WDD) has set a clear timetable for the completion of the infrastructure. The announcement of the project is expected in 2027, if the environmental and economic studies are completed and in 2029 the unit is expected to be fully operational.
Therefore, the WDD will immediately proceed with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment Study and Sustainability and Economic Return Studies, as well as a Project Note (PCN), in order to secure the required permits and approvals for the implementation of the project.
The construction cost of the unit is estimated at €80,000,000. The project will be implemented using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) method, which provides for the operation and maintenance of the unit by the private investor for a period of 25 years.
The purpose of the new unit is to safeguard the urban areas of Limassol against prolonged drought and low reserves of dams. Upon completion of the project in 2029, the province is expected to gain a reliable and permanent source of water, ensuring its water sufficiency for decades to come.
The credits for the purchase of water from the plant will be included in the budget of the WDD, in the article "Water Purchase", separating the operating costs from the capital cost of construction.
In the context of enhancing water sufficiency, new mobile desalination plants have already been fully operationalized. Since last July, the unit has been operating in Moni (15,000 cubic litres/day), in Kissonerga since last December (12,000 cubic litres/day) and in the Port of Limassol (10,000 cubic litres/day) since March. The mobile desalination plant of Moni has a scheduled operating horizon until the end of 2026.
With the addition of the new units, the total number of desalination plants increases from five to eight, while with the inclusion of the unit in Garyllis (10,000 cubic litres/day) in the next period it is expected to rise to nine.
In 2026, the operation of the desalination plant in Episkopi (15,000 cubic litres/day) is planned in the fall, while the operation of the Vasilikos (20,000 cubic litres/day) in January 2027. At the beginning of January 2027, the desalination plant in Mazotos is expected to be put into operation (40,000 cubic litres/day). These projects are expected to add a total daily capacity of 137,000 cubic litres.
In combination with the five existing permanent units (235,000 cubic litres/day), the total capacity of the system will increase by approximately 66%, significantly enhancing the security of water supply.
As part of the long-term planning, by 2029, the creation of three more new permanent desalination plants is being promoted in addition to East Limassol. Specifically, the first unit in the area of Ayia Napa is planned in Ayia Thekla (30,000 cubic litres/day), a new unit in Dhekelia (80,000 cubic litres/day) to replace the existing and a new unit in Polis Chrysochous (10,000 cubic litres/day). These three units are planned to utilize, where possible, Renewable Energy Sources.
It is emphasized that the installation of high-speed refineries in the area of Polis Chrysochous is planned to meet water supply needs, with an estimated start in January 2028 and a daily capacity of 1,500 cubic litres.
It is noted that the contract with the contractor of the Dhekelia desalination plant is completed on May 20, 2027. Provided that the new unit is not expected to be ready before 2029, the WDD is in the process of negotiating with the contractor for an extension of the contract.
By 2023, permanent desalination plants covered about 70% of water needs. This percentage approached 75% in 2025 and today stands at around 80%.
As of 2024, desalination projects are progressing with accelerated permitting procedures and targeted urban planning regulations, without discounts on environmental and technical standards.
What is expected from the new units
It is estimated that the total desalination plants will contribute for the year 2026 approximately 83 million cubic litres (ECL) to the Unified Southern Pipeline Plan (ESNA) and 8.2 ECL to the Paphos Large Irrigation Project, while for the years 2027 and 2028 the corresponding contribution is estimated to increase to 105.1 ECL for ESNA and 8.9 ECL for Paphos, based on the integration planning of new and mobile units.
However, in order to ensure the above quantities that have been incorporated into the water balance, individual critical assumptions have been adopted concerning specific desalination plants, which are of particular importance for medium-term planning.
The existing contract with the contractor of the Dhekelia desalination plant, which provides for the concession of 19.7 ECL per year, is completed within 2027. The WDD has already launched the negotiation process for a time extension of the existing contract.
In the ESNA scenario, it is estimated that the annual quantity produced will remain at the same levels for the years 2027 and 2028, as in 2026.
As far as the mobile desalination plant of Vassiliko is concerned, annual quantities of 3.3 ECL have been calculated for the years 2027 and 2028, based on the assumption that the Vasilikos will be put into operation in January 2027. It is noted that some problems have arisen recently. According to the WDD, any delay in the completion of the installation and integration of the unit will lead to corresponding deficits in the projected quantities for 2027. It is noted that the sole responsibility for the completion of the installation of this unit lies with the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, as the competent Implementing Authority.
For the years 2027 and 2028, further annual quantities of 13.1 ECL have been calculated, assuming that the Mazotos desalination plant will be operational in January 2027. And for this unit, the WDD emphasizes that any delay in the completion of the installation or the start of full operation of the unit and/or in the event of cancellation or change of design, as was the case with the Ayia Napa mobile unit, will result in the creation of significant deficits in the quantities that have been incorporated into the water balance, especially for the year 2027.
