New mobile desalination plant in Limassol

The Cyprus government signed a contract with a private consortium for the installation of a mobile desalination plant to supply water to the southern coastal town of Limassol.
The plant will produce 20,000 cubic metres of desalinated water per day and is expected to operate until the completion of a permanent desalination unit in Episkopi, near Limassol.
Water produced by the mobile plant will be sold to the Water Development Department at the price of 1.38 euro per cubic metre.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Fotis Fotiou said the plant constitutes a ”very important project” which will solve the water supply problem of Limassol for the next three years.
He added that the mobile plant will be operational in eight months.
Cyprus has been facing water shortages, due to drought, which resulted in a dramatic decrease in the island’s water reserves. According to statistics released by the Water Development Department, 27.1% of Cyprus’ water supplies in 2007 come from desalination plants.