Cyprus is focusing on four mobile and two permanent desalination plants as key solutions to its water crisis, aiming to more than double production capacity from 235,000 to 510,000 cubic metres per day.
This expanded capacity will meet 100% of the country’s drinking water needs for decades to come, allowing reservoir water to be used almost exclusively for irrigation.
Five desalination plants currently operate with a total capacity of 235,000 cubic metres daily – located in Dhekelia, Limassol (Episkopi), Vasilikos (EAC), Larnaca and Paphos.
The Paphos plant is being reconstructed following a fire in December 2024 and is expected to resume operations in August-September 2025.
The current capacity meets approximately 70% of nationwide water supply needs, with demand increasing significantly each year.
Measures approved by the Cabinet include a programme to install additional desalination units to increase drinking water supply with less dependence on weather conditions.
Four mobile desalination plants are planned for Kissonerga in Paphos, Garyllis and the Port in Limassol, and Moni in Limassol.
The Kissonerga contract will be signed next Monday with operations beginning between October and December. If the plant becomes operational by September, four months after signing, the contractor will receive a bonus.
Additional small desalination units with a capacity of at least 2,000 cubic metres daily will be installed in Kissonerga in July.
The tender for the Garyllis desalination plant is expected to be awarded in June, with operations targeted for October. This unit will have a capacity of 10,000 cubic metres daily.
For the Limassol port desalination plant, authorities are exploring direct assignment to one of the companies that expressed interest in the open invitation, provided they can deliver within four months with a bonus incentive.
This plant will have a capacity of 10,000 cubic metres. Without direct assignment, it is expected to be completed between November 2025 and January 2026.
The Moni desalination plant will have a capacity of 15,000 cubic metres daily. Thirteen mobile units currently en route from the United Arab Emirates will be installed there by the end of May, with full operation expected in June.
The Water Development Department deemed Limassol the most suitable location as existing infrastructure will facilitate faster connection.
According to the timeline, all mobile desalination units are expected to be operational during 2025.
The Water Development Department has also begun negotiations with existing plant contractors regarding potential expansions
Long-term plans include constructing two new permanent desalination plants in Moni and Dhekelia with a total capacity of 140,000 cubic metres daily, expandable to 180,000 cubic metres daily.
In Paphos district, until the restoration of the Paphos desalination plant in Kouklia (expected by mid-August 2025), there may be significant difficulty meeting peak demand during the summer period as the Asprokremmos treatment plant is insufficient.
The Water Development Department has activated many older boreholes and is continuously seeking new ones. These boreholes, with a total supply of approximately 10,000 cubic metres daily, are expected to cover a large part of the water deficit.
Additionally, in collaboration with the Geological Survey Department, two additional boreholes have been drilled in the Pegeia area with a total output of 2,000 cubic metres daily.
Furthermore, the Paphos District Organisation of Local Authorities has identified and is equipping five boreholes with an estimated output of 1,000 cubic metres daily, also in the Pegeia area.
These plans are being implemented during Cyprus’s third consecutive year of drought, which has significantly reduced water reserves in reservoirs.
Water inflow to dams since the beginning of the hydrological year (October 1, 2024) has amounted to only 18.4 million cubic metres – the third worst inflow on record since data collection began and since the completion of all major dams (1987-1988).
As a result, the stored water in dams has decreased to 65.7 million cubic metres, corresponding to 22.2% capacity compared to 39.9% on the same day last year.
A plan of 28 actions to enhance water sufficiency and address water scarcity is being developed by the Water Development Department, including the construction of two new permanent desalination plants by 2030.
With these projects, Cyprus will have a total of seven desalination plants, further establishing its independence from rainfall.
The new plants, planned for Eastern Limassol and Dhekelia, will utilise renewable energy technologies, reducing their energy footprint and enhancing project sustainability. The Moni plant will have a daily capacity of 60,000 cubic metres, expandable by 20,000 cubic metres, while the Dhekelia plant will reach 80,000 cubic metres daily with similar expansion capabilities.
Simultaneously, plans include upgrading and expanding the five existing desalination plants managed by the Water Development Department, aiming to increase the country’s water balance by 10 to 40 million cubic metres annually.
The implementation process for the new plants is complex and time-consuming, requiring approximately 22 months for all necessary preparatory studies – technical, environmental, sustainability, and economic viability.
An additional six months will be needed for tendering and awarding the Design-Build-Operate contract. From the award date, construction of each plant is estimated to take at least three years.
The installation sites were chosen after extensive study and evaluation of many parameters, including land ownership, urban planning characteristics, proximity to existing infrastructure, and geographical distribution of water supply needs.
The marine spatial plan and the possibilities of utilising existing sources and infrastructure were also considered.
