The further reduction of unbilled water, which currently stands at around 19%-20% – the lowest rate compared to the rest of the provinces and lower than the EU average – is one of the key objectives for which the Nicosia District Self-Government Organization will seek the support of the National Water Company of Israel, Mekorot, said on Tuesday the President of the EDA Nicosia, Constantinos Yiorkadjis.
Mr. Yiorkadjis was speaking at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the EDA Nicosia and Mekorot, which aims to promote the exchange of know-how and best practices in the field of sustainable management of water resources.
The Memorandum was signed by Mr. Georghadjis, on behalf of the HOA Nicosia, and by Barack Greber, CEO of Mekorot Development & Enterprise, in the presence of the Ambassador of Israel to Cyprus, Oren Anolik, executives of the two organizations and representatives of relevant services of the Republic of Cyprus.
"This collaboration brings together two organizations that operate in environments with limited water resources and, naturally, share the same mission: the sustainable, efficient and innovative management of water resources," said Mr. Georghadjis in his speech. At the same time, he referred to Mekorot's long-term experience and international know-how in the fields of desalination, water reuse, smart water supply networks and advanced water technologies.
"Climate change knows no borders. It affects water sufficiency and scarcity in a similar, if not identical, way," he noted, adding that the protection of water resources is a "shared responsibility for all countries in our region." As he mentioned, the EDA of Nicosia continues to invest in modern infrastructure, digital transformation and innovation, in order to ensure reliable, high-quality and sustainable water supply services to citizens.
He also stressed that, through this cooperation, the two organizations will join forces, exchanging knowledge, experience and know-how and creating a platform for the exchange of best practices, which will strengthen both organizations and, expressed the hope that it will lead to the provision of even better services to citizens.
For his part, Mr. Greber said that the two countries not only share the same climate, but also the responsibility of ensuring the water supply to the residents of Cyprus and Israel. At the same time, as he said, they also share the water resources of the Mediterranean, which creates a special framework of cooperation in the field of water management.
He added that the experience that Mekorot has gained over the last 90 years is made available to this cooperation, together with its best practices, advanced engineering knowledge and specialized human resources, in order to jointly respond to the responsibility they share.
Israel's Ambassador to Cyprus, Oren Anolik, said that cooperation between Israel and Cyprus continues to strengthen in many areas and that water is an area where cooperation can substantially improve the daily lives of citizens. As he mentioned, both Israel and Cyprus are in a region where water scarcity is one of the biggest challenges, which makes it necessary to find smarter and more innovative solutions.
"This is not just an environmental challenge. It is also an economic and strategic challenge," he said, noting that Israel has developed over time "unique" know-how in water management, utilizing every drop of water, experience that is particularly useful for the needs of Cyprus. "That is why cooperation between the two countries is so important," he added.
Mr. Anolik also said that Mekorot's know-how is already known in Cyprus, as the company has contributed to the implementation of important projects, including the desalination plants in Larnaca and Limassol, projects which, as he said, have strengthened the country's water security. "Today's agreement builds on this successful partnership and paves the way for new opportunities," he said.
The Director of the Water Development Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Iliana Tofa, expressed her satisfaction with the cooperation initiated through the Memorandum of Cooperation.
As he mentioned, the Water Development Department has been cooperating with Mekorot since 2015 in the context of desalination projects. He recalled that the initial period was particularly difficult, noting that the company offered all possible support.
Answering a question about the benefits that are expected to arise for Cyprus from the Memorandum of Cooperation, Mr. Georghadjis said that the memorandum concerns an agreement in principle and that they will start exchanging views to decide on which points and problems to focus. He noted that because it is an exchange of information, "we will probably help in some issues."
"We set as priorities the reduction of unbilled water, leaks," said Mr. Georghadjis, adding that in the province of Nicosia, "we estimate that we have unbilled water of around 19 to 20%, it is the lowest that exists in a province in Cyprus, by a large margin and it is also lower than the average of the European Union." "Nevertheless, and because we have set the bar very high, one of the main goals we will set and we will want the help of this company is to further reduce unbilled water," he added.
The second priority is the management of sewerage and possible problems during the flood season, he said.
For his part, Mr. Greber stated that the signing of the Memorandum is the starting point of the cooperation between the two organizations. As he said, the two sides will work together to identify key challenges, set priorities and develop appropriate solutions, through a comprehensive and holistic approach.
