As tank deposits are practically run out, Cyprus will receive free-of-charge lightweight desalination plants from the United Arab Emirates this summer, according to officials who announced it on Thursday.
Maria Panayiotou, the minister of agriculture and environment, reported to the state broadcaster that the UAE had agreed to pay no cost to install an unknown number of desalination plants in Cyprus that will generate a total of 15, 000 square meters ( 530, 000 cubic feet ) of drinkable water each day.
She said the UAE specialists are aware of the needed as the summer tourism season kicks into high gear and water requirements reach their highest levels, but she didn’t specify when the units would arrive and be functional.
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She claimed the agreement is the result of secret conversations that have taken place over the past few months to address the country’s growing water needs, which were severe when a fire destroyed one of its five dynamic desalination plants, leading to water shortage cuts for agriculture. Every day, each onshore unit produces 235 000 cubic feet ( 8.3 million cubic feet ) of fresh water.
The compact units from the UAE will replace the plant’s water power, according to Panayiotou, and the plant won’t be back in activity until August. According to Panayiotou, professional employees are still figuring out where the compact units will be placed to maximize their power. When those products will get returned to the UAE, she said.
Cyprus continues to concentrate on an extensive tank network, with a 330 million square meters of overall, in addition to its unique desalination plants. Following the second-driest spring in a decade, liquid rates across the 108 pools are less than a quarter of what they used to be, making them the most populous in terms of population. Official figures indicate that reservoirs were running at 47.2 % capacity in 2024.
Nikos Christodoulides, the president of Cyprus, made the announcement about the UAE package in an appointment with the local TV station ANT1, lauding the deal as the result of Cyprus ‘ expanded political contacts and the friendly ties it has developed, especially with the Emirates and other nations in the region.
Despite the UAE’s support, Panayiotou said the administration’s medium- and long-term plans to address the island’s water shortages are moving forward.
The planning also includes the purchase of four more cellular desalination plants, each of which will start operating in late autumn and will be able to produce 30 000 cubic feet ( 1 million cubic feet ) of drinkable water each day.
Over the long term, two more than 100 000 square meters ( 5 million cubic feet ) of regular desalination plants may be constructed. A government program to pay for the construction of secret desalination plants at hotels was unveiled last month by Panayiotou. Tourism accounts for 13.5 % of Cyprus ‘ gross domestic product. Tourist arrivals in the last year exceeded 4 million, breaking a fresh report.
