Government proceeds with Mazotos desalination plant despite community opposition

The Cypriot government is moving forward with the construction of a mobile desalination plant in the Mazotos community, designed to produce 40,000 cubic meters of water per day to address water shortages for 2027-2029. The project budget has risen to approximately €91.5 million, including construction and land expropriation costs. Despite the Water Development Department's assurance that all legal and transparent procedures were followed, Mazotos residents remain strongly opposed, citing concerns over the protection of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and potential environmental damage. A meeting between Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou and local officials ended in tension without resolving the community's concerns. The Mazotos Community Council has filed a legal challenge against the project, with a court hearing set for June 29. Meanwhile, in a separate development, plans are underway for a permanent desalination plant in Limassol with a 60,000 cubic meter daily capacity and an €80 million budget, intended for completion by 2029 via a Public-Private Partnership.