The government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s water security are moving forward with an updated plan.

Following yesterday’s decision by the Council of Ministers, procedures are moving forward for the installation of three new permanent desalination plants in Dekelia, Agia Thekla, and Polis Chrysochous. These plants will be developed in parallel with the one in East Limassol. Their total capacity is estimated to reach 180,000 cubic meters of water per day.

Permanent Desalination Plants

Dekelia: 80,000 cubic meters per day.
Agia Thekla: 30,000 cubic meters per day.
Chrysochous: 10,000 cubic meters per day.
East Limassol: 60,000 cubic meters per day.

“Weather conditions vary adversely from year to year; and these are assessed by the relevant agencies in conjunction with the plan and the capabilities we have, so that we can enhance these capabilities as much as possible.”
_{Konstantinos Letympiotis – Government Spokesperson}

The proposed new Permanent Desalination Plant in Agia Thekla will replace the Mobile Desalination Plant in Ayia Napa, a project that is being canceled in the wake of opposition from local stakeholders.

The government has also decided to postpone the Floating Desalination Plant project in Germasogeia, the necessity of which will be reassessed at a later date, based on water needs, reserves, and cost.

The Department of Water Development is also moving forward with the necessary procedures to prepare a strategic feasibility study that will examine, as a baseline scenario, the possibility of fully meeting the country’s water supply needs exclusively through desalinated water by 2050.

According to data cited by “O Fileleftheros,” the 13 plants—which are either in operation, under construction, or being considered for capacity expansion—will be able to produce 500,000 cubic meters of water per day, at an estimated annual production cost of 235 million euros.

Watch the report by Rafaella Stavrinou: