Cyprus Cabinet approves three permanent desalination units

Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’s Cabinet has updated its desalination planning and approved three new Permanent Desalination Units as part of decisions taken since 2024 to strengthen the country’s water balance and secure water supplies.

New permanent units

The new units will be built in Dhekelia, with a capacity of 80,000 cubic metres per day; Ayia Thekla, with a capacity of 30,000 cubic metres per day; and Polis Chrysochous, with a capacity of 10,000 cubic metres per day, subject to all necessary approvals and licences.

The projects will proceed alongside the already approved Permanent Desalination Unit for East Limassol, which will have a capacity of 60,000 cubic metres per day. Together, the four new units will have a combined daily capacity of 180,000 cubic metres.

Changes to emergency projects

Following a reassessment of projects planned as emergency measures against water shortages, the Cabinet cancelled the Mobile Desalination Unit in Ayia Napa. The project will be replaced in the planning by the permanent unit in Ayia Thekla.

The Cabinet also postponed the Floating Desalination Unit in Germasogeia. Its necessity will be reviewed later based on water needs, reserves and economic cost.

Long-term water planning

The update follows progress on existing projects and a reassessment of the country’s water needs. It forms part of a long-term plan to strengthen water security and gradually reduce reliance on rainfall and dam reserves.

The Cabinet decided to proceed with the Six-Year Desalination Plan for 2025-2031 and, in principle, with a Long-Term Desalination Plan covering water supply needs until 2050.

The Water Development Department is preparing a Strategic Sustainability Study of Desalination Projects. The study will examine, as a baseline scenario, whether 100 per cent of Cyprus’s water supply needs could be met with desalinated water. Final decisions on the long-term plan will be based on the study’s conclusions.