**Cyprus Targets Full Reliance on Desalination Plants by Next Year**
Cyprus is poised to achieve near-complete reliance on desalination plants for its domestic water supply by next year, according to Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou. During a recent visit to the desalination facility at the port of Limassol, Panayiotou highlighted that desalination currently meets approximately 80% of the nation's drinking water needs, with additional projects set to enhance this capacity over the next 18 months.
The minister indicated that with the introduction of new desalination units in Limassol later this autumn, along with two more plants planned for 2027, Cyprus is on track to approach 100% coverage of its water supply requirements. "With the units coming to Limassol in the autumn and the two planned for 2027, we are approaching 100% coverage of our water supply needs," she stated.
Panayiotou noted that the government inherited five desalination plants that had been constructed over a span of 25 years. However, in a significant development, four additional units have been brought online within just two years. This expansion will result in a total of ten desalination units operating for the first time, which the minister described as temporary solutions until four permanent plants are completed by 2029.
The increased capacity from these desalination plants has already had a positive impact on the country's water supply situation. Panayiotou reported that the enhanced production has helped avoid domestic water cuts, despite ongoing pressure on water resources. "When I took office, the dams contained less water than they do today," she remarked, emphasizing the effectiveness of the government's water management strategies.
The minister credited the Water Development Department (WDD) for its extraordinary efforts in managing the water supply, stating, "Through our overall policy and the extraordinary efforts of the water development department, we have managed not to impose water supply cuts." However, she acknowledged that the construction of the Limassol desalination unit faced significant delays due to unforeseen challenges, particularly related to electricity infrastructure. "These are demanding infrastructure projects. They need time to mature, time to prepare and find suitable locations, which are limited in Cyprus," she explained.
While the outlook for domestic water supplies appears increasingly secure, Panayiotou cautioned that the agricultural sector continues to face considerable challenges. She emphasized that resolving household water shortages would enable more water stored in reservoirs to be allocated for agricultural use. "We are solving the supply problem so that the water in our dams can be made available continuously to our farmers," she noted, although she acknowledged that this transition would not happen overnight.
In light of the recent improvements in water availability, the minister urged households to remain vigilant about water conservation. "We are not repeating the mistakes of the past; the water we waste is the water we deprive our farmers of," she concluded. To support this initiative, the government has launched a "Water for Tomorrow" campaign, which includes the distribution of three million water-saving nozzles for household taps and showers. This program aims to promote water efficiency, with nationwide distribution expected to be completed by the end of August.
As Cyprus moves towards a future with enhanced water security through desalination, the government's focus remains on balancing domestic needs with agricultural demands, ensuring that the island's water resources are managed sustainably.