Cabinet approves construction of desalination plant in Mazotos despite residents’ lawsuit

The Cypriot government has decided to see through the project for a mobile desalination plant in Mazotos, despite a lawsuit filed by local residents. The Council of Ministers approved the compulsory expropriation of land and the construction of a road, while the total cost of the project, including pipelines, has risen to 92 million euros. The facility is scheduled to launch in January 2027.

The essence of the project:
• The plant will have a capacity of 40,000 cubic meters of water per day. It will be connected to the Southern Conveyor to help tackle the country’s water shortage.
• The authorities have already granted environmental approval. Officials say the risks to the marine environment are minimal and that the discharge of brine will not cause harm.

What the conflict is about:
• Local residents and the community council are asking the court to halt the works; the hearing is scheduled for June 29.
• Residents are convinced the project will cause serious damage to the coastal area and destroy protected seagrass meadows of posidonia. A meeting between citizens and the agriculture minister ended in a scandal.