Cyprus plans to buy water from floating desalination plant

Three companies are said to be shortlisted for a project to build a floating desalination plant to supply the southern coastal town of Limassol, according to Sofoklis Aletraris, head of Cyprus' Water Development Department, quoted in the Financial Mirror on 11 January 2009.

The Cyprus government plans to buy water from a floating desalination platform, to be installed off the southern coastal town of Limassol, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Michalis Polinikis has said.

This will be the country's second floating desalination plant with a capacity of 20,000-50,000 m³/d (5.3 to 13.2 MGD) and is expected to operate for five years until another permanent plant can be built at Episkopi.

At the same time, the Council of Ministers approved the establishment of a committee to oversee the construction of desalination units in Cyprus, following the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment, Michalis Polynikis. The minister has also set in motion an upgrade for the Dhekalia plant.

The head of the Water Development Department Sofoklis Aletraris said that there are now 3,58 cubic metres of water in all the reservoirs, compared to 6,10 last year.

“Water needs for Cyprus, except Pafos, in 2007 were 212.000 cubic metres and we expect a 5 per cent increase,” he said, noting also that there are still 3 million cubic metres of water to be imported from Greece, a process expected to be completed by the end of March.

He said following a government invitation for interest in a floating desalination unit, there are now three companies short-listed for the project.

Cyprus is faced with severe drought; rainfall in the past 2-3 years has been very limited. Last year, the government imposed restrictions in the supply of water to households but essential services such as hospitals are spared.