Mazotos community council calls for cancellation of planned desalination plant

On June 22, 2026, the Mazotos Community Council sent a letter to President Nikos Christodoulides requesting the cancellation and reassessment of plans for a mobile desalination unit in the Mazotos area. Led by Georgios Dimitriou Pafitis, the council argues that recent heavy rainfall has improved Cyprus's water reserves, allowing for a more deliberate review of decisions made under pressure. The council cites a May 2026 preliminary assessment claiming that the project lacked a required national Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment. Objections include the failure to evaluate alternative brine management strategies and the deferral of key project parameters until after the initial approval. Marine scientists from MER Lab have deemed the site unsuitable due to the presence of protected Posidonia seagrass meadows, which are vulnerable to damage from pipeline installation and brine discharge. Additionally, the council raised concerns regarding the presence of archaeological artifacts in the area that could be damaged by construction works. The community is requesting an urgent meeting with the President to discuss these environmental and procedural concerns.