On June 15, I attended I my private citizen capacity the community meeting on the issue of desalination, an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and organised by the Community of Mazotos. The visit by the Minister of Agriculture, the honorable Ms. Maria Panagiotou, took place at 5 p.m. in a packed hall at the Nationalists Association building. As reported in yesterday’s article in *Fileleftheros*, the visit took place in a tense atmosphere, in the absence of the media.
Present at the meeting and accompanying the esteemed minister were experts with knowledge and experience in environmental issues, such as Ms. Iliana Tofas Christidou, Director of the Office of Environmental, Fisheries, and Water Development, who, at the minister’s suggestion, took the initiative at one point to explain to the packed room the need to build the desalination plant from the outset. These explanations were provided following a barrage of questions raised both by the consultants appointed by the residents and by the residents themselves.
According to the Parliament’s decision, the temporary desalination plant is scheduled to begin operations in January 2027, with a maximum daily capacity of 40,000 cubic meters (although some sources mention 20,000 cubic meters, which may require clarification). According to the Minister, the operating cost of each temporary desalination plant amounts to 85 million euro (plants are expected to operate in areas throughout Cyprus, namely in the Limassol District —Moni, Limassol Port, Episkopi & Germasogeia, Garyllis; in the Paphos District—Kissonerga and Kouklia; and in the Larnaca District, Mazotos and Vasiliko). The construction costs will be borne by private construction companies, which will be compensated through the purchase of water. This was one of the many key questions raised by Mazotos residents at the meeting.
The ministry gave residents the opportunity to submit both their questions in writing and independent studies prior to the meeting. As stated by the minister, the goal was to answer as many questions as possible during the meeting. The community submitted the study and, possibly, the questions after the deadline had passed; however, the ministry committed during the meeting that the questions submitted just a few days before the meeting, as well as the studies, would be examined and answered in writing.
The discussion between the community and the government (the minister and officials) was heated, with residents expressing fears, concerns, and, above all, immense disappointment with the current decision.
The reason? The fear of a broader decline of the Mazotos community (as well as the surrounding communities). Broader, because residents view the installation of the temporary facility as yet another nail in the coffin they have placed over the region—and Mazotos in particular. And why is that? Because of a host of promises and commitments made by successive government ministers regarding the region’s development—promises that were flagrantly broken and led to a drastic decline in the value of residents’ properties, trapping most of them in financial hardship (with all that entails).
The source of fear and outrage:
Throughout the meeting, it was clear that the community of Mazotos (as well as the neighbouring communities of Alaminos and Anafotida) is a simmering volcano. The Minister of Agriculture found herself confronted with a long-simmering anger among the residents. The scene during the meeting: the minister and the bureaucrats at one end of the room behind desks set up to separate them from the crowd, and the residents across from them in chairs but close enough that their loud voices caused a commotion and, at times, a sense of fear.
According to what the residents said, the source of their fear and indignation is a series of government decisions made from time to time that have resulted in the deterioration of the area. And for those who may not know where the village is located or its significance, we remind you: Mazotos is a picturesque seaside village in the Larnaca district, built at an elevation of 35 meters. It is located just 20 kilometers southwest of the city of Larnaca and approximately 72 kilometers from Nicosia. It combines traditional Cypriot architecture with the tranquility of nature and breathtaking views of the sea. In 2007, a merchant shipwreck from the Late Classical period was discovered in the waters off Mazotos, at a depth of 45 meters. It is the first wreck from this period discovered in the southeastern Mediterranean carrying Chian amphorae at a depth accessible to divers.
Consequently, its scientific significance is great, as this research can shed light on questions concerning the maritime routes and trade between the peoples of the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean during the Late Classical period. It is worth noting that the Mazotos shipwreck is not a forgotten discovery. Research on the Mazotos Shipwreck began in 2007 and is being conducted by the Archaeological Research Unit (ARU) of the University of Cyprus, under the direction of Dr. Stella Demesticha, in collaboration with the THETIS Foundation and the Cyprus Department of Antiquities. From 2007 to 2012, three excavation seasons were carried out, and the shipwreck remains in very good condition.
It is therefore clear that an area with such a rich history and natural beauty, which has remained unchanged over the centuries, could claim greater commercial significance for the benefit of its residents. For those interested in the history of Cyprus, we note that the first inhabitants of the region date back to antiquity, while during the Byzantine Empire, Mazotos served as an important administrative center and the capital of the province of the same name. In 747 AD, the historic Naval Battle of Keramia took place off its coast, one of the most significant victories of medieval Hellenism. Later, during the Latin occupation, it served as an administrative district and belonged to the Order of the Knights Templar.
In other countries we visit, we might make a special effort to visit areas of comparable historical and environmental significance. Mazotos is located in Cyprus, about 40 minutes from Nicosia.
The criticism directed at the minister, however, was sparked by her predecessors:
The source of the criticism the minister has faced relates more to past mistakes than to the current decision, which, of course, carries its own risks—as the residents realize, which is why they oppose the creation of the temporary facility; the hearing on the suspension of the project is scheduled for June 29 at the competent court to which the residents appealed, challenging the Ministerial Council’s decision.
During the discussion, the Community Leader of Mazotos made a great effort to maintain calm among the residents and balance the situation through his presence and the explanations provided by the technical experts. He urged residents to focus on desalination issues and questions related to desalination. However, it was clear that the source of the outrage in Mazotos runs deeper. The recent decision to install a temporary desalination plant simply intensified that frustration. With the utmost respect for the Community Leader’s work—all the questions, even those not directly related to desalination (after all, ordinary people were participating alongside the single expert who was present), were related to the impacts of desalination.
Because any further degradation of the area—whether resulting from the construction of the plant or from previous decisions regarding land redistribution or restrictions on land development under the applicable urban planning zones—affects the residents who own property in Mazotos, equally.
The law of necessity and the procedures it bypasses:
The Mazotos plant is part of a larger government plan. In April 2024, the Council of Ministers approved the National Investment Plan for Water Projects, comprising 93 projects with an estimated value of over 1 billion euros. Since April 2024, the Cabinet has adopted successive packages of measures: the four mobile unit projects announced in March 2025 (Moni, Limassol Port, Kissonerga, Garyllis) were scheduled to be fully operational by January 2026, some of which were provided by the UAE. The goal, as stated for Mazotos, is to address the water emergency and reduce dependence on rainfall and dams.
The Director of the Water Department, speaking at the meeting in Mazotos the day before yesterday, strongly emphasized the dire situation Cyprus faces with regard to water. The minister noted that the current government has ensured that solutions to address the water problem are included in the budget. This is the first time this has happened. Both referred to the need to make fundamental decisions that will improve the situation not just temporarily but over the long term.
These arguments did not resonate with residents. What is clear, however, is that although both sides disagree (the Minister urged them to agree that they disagree), both care about the future of our Cyprus. Each side, in the way it is able to perceive and understand the actions that have been taken.
What are the damages that residents anticipate and oppose:
Subject to the official study and the questions that will be submitted to the Ministry (or have already been sent), the residents cited, among other things, the following risks/damages during the meeting:
- Environmental damage to the marine ecosystem: Mr. Dimitris Kleitou, who, as we understand, conducted a study on behalf of the residents, referred repeatedly to the destruction of Posidonia. Posidonia meadows (Posidonia oceanica) are a priority protected habitat under Directive 92/43/EEC, serving as the “lungs” and nursery of the Mediterranean, and their restoration—if destroyed—takes decades, not years. Residents raised the issue of damage to the Posidonia meadows caused by the placement of pipes and machinery during the plant’s construction. As noted, the damage here is practically irreversible within the plant’s operational lifespan. How can the Department of Water ensure that the damage will be mitigated in this case, and by what means?
- Brine discharge (effluent) from the plant’s operation: The second issue raised concerns effluent. The Community Leader noted that one issue that will arise from the plant’s operation is water discharge, regarding which they did not receive clear answers from the relevant officials. As we heard the day before yesterday, technically, desalination produces hyperbrine (the concentrate) that is returned to the sea—with increased salinity and often residues from the chemical cleaning of the membranes. If it is not properly discharged, it sinks and “smothers” the seabed, directly harming the seagrass beds and marine life in the area. Mazotos (as well as the surrounding areas) relies on fishing for its livelihood. How will the income of people who depend on this form of employment be safeguarded if the plant’s operation adversely affects or destroys the fishing industry?
- Harm to residents’ health and quality of life: Residents expressed their primary concern that the sea and the local environment—as well as their health—should not be destroyed. Beyond the marine environment, the ongoing risks associated with operating such a facility include noise from high-pressure pumps (operating 24 hours a day), odors, and the visual/aesthetic degradation of the coastline — factors worth weighing in relation to whether the plant is located near a residential or tourist area. During the discussion, residents naturally raised questions that anyone who works with people can understand why they arise: “Why Mazotos and not Zygi? Or Meneou?” These questions reveal that people view the plant’s construction as disastrous. Is that really the case? Would any of us accept a temporary desalination plant being set up right in front of our home or workplace? And if it is absolutely necessary to do so, what compensatory measures would be adopted immediately?
- Economic damage—tourism, fishing, land value: This aspect was expressed with deep sorrow. Specifically, some of the residents noted that “those who are suffering are not here with us today,” referring to our fellow citizens who were directly and catastrophically affected by previous government decisions that ruined them financially. These are the people and their families in Mazoto. Is it true that this facility will degrade the beach and the waterfront, harming coastal tourism? Residents fear that the damage to seaweed and marine life will irreparably harm fishermen, further affecting property values in the immediate vicinity.
- A hardly temporary situation: A question that came up several times yesterday. Will the plant really operate for only seven years under the agreement? The concern here—and the residents’ fear—is the risk of a “temporary” facility becoming permanent—and the uncertainty about who will restore the area (the so-called issue of decommissioning and restoration) when the contract expires.
- Bypassing procedures under the guise of ‘necessity’—fears over an epidermic review of the consequences: The project was pushed through using expedited procedures and without obtaining a zoning permit, based on a Special Development Decree. This means that the community was deprived of the usual stages of consultation and objection that would have been part of a standard urban planning process—which is why, in fact, it filed a lawsuit seeking a suspension of the work, with the case set to be heard on June 29. This alone—even though the need for immediacy is clearly understandable (though perhaps not to everyone)—constitutes a serious reason for the resistance being mounted. Previous, highly unfortunate examples of a similarly superficial approach—which came at a cost to residents—have been cited as evidence that the government does not care, but rather uses legal loopholes to serve certain interests.
The Agriculture Minister’s Approach and Response:
At the meeting venue, the minister found herself face to face with a room full of anger. And indignation. Both over the desalination project and the abandonment of the region.
A brief walk through the village immediately reveals that this is a unique area. The calm and serenity that prevail in the village while inviting, perhaps indirectly suggest a sense of abandonment. The same is evident in the abandoned developments, the half-finished buildings, and the neglected apartments. Nevertheless, the village’s beauty is so striking that one can set all of these aside and be captivated by the beauty of Mazotos Beach, the Kostas Argyros Museum, which houses his works that constitute our country’s rich cultural heritage, and the endless fields of barley and olive trees that surround the village.
Faced with the residents’ anger, the minister did her best to respond. She noted that she preferred to let the experts explain why the plant’s construction is necessary. The experts began (after letting the residents ask all the questions they had—and, in fact, get everything off their chests) by emphasizing the immediate need to resolve the water crisis. That’s right. We all agree on that. But from the day someone is born in Cyprus, that’s what they hear—that we don’t have water and we have to make sacrifices. But has anyone actually tried to address the residents’ deeply rooted fears and concerns in a substantive way, rather than just to tick a box and move on?
Given the resistance, and given the need, is it perhaps time to address these disagreements in a more communicatively substantive way? Should we dare to look at the real root of the problem (the complete lack of trust in the government) so that we can convince—if we can, of course—the residents of Mazotos as well as the residents of so many other areas in Cyprus of the need to make yet another sacrifice? Have we truly considered alternatives to avoid burdening this village with yet another potentially damaging situation? Did we really listen?
The last thing that should come out of this situation is yet another polarisation. Water shortage is a grave reality. And the government’s commitment to solving this is a relief. Is it at the same time a disastrous decision for the residents of Mazotos?
