Nicosia: Mobile desalination plants are expected to arrive in Cyprus by the end of May, aiming to produce water by June, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panayiotou said on Tuesday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Panayiotou made these remarks following a joint session of the parliamentary committees of Agriculture and Environment. She emphasized that the goal is to address the water scarcity issue within the next 2 to 3 years by establishing two additional permanent desalination plants capable of producing 120 thousand cubic meters of water.
The Minister highlighted that the initial mobile desalination plants would prioritize the districts of Limassol and Pafos. Concurrently, the construction of the two permanent desalination plants is underway, with completion expected in the next two to three years. These permanent facilities will utilize renewable energy sources, as opposed to the mobile units, which will rely on conventional fuel according to their specifications.
Panayiotou further clarified that all desalination plants will operate continuously, regardless of rainfall, ensuring sufficient water supply in the dams for agricultural use. In addition, she mentioned the approval of four comprehensive measures by the Council of Ministers for the period from April 2024 to March 2025, with a total budget of 2 billion euros.