Latest news with #MariaPanayiotou
Russia Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
EU to order members to reduce water consumption
The European Commission is reportedly planning to call on EU member states to cut water use by at least 10 percent by 2030, according to a draft plan seen by the Financial Times. The legislation would mark the Commission's first water-usage reduction directive in the history of the EU. The proposal comes amid rising concerns about droughts and groundwater depletion following increasingly frequent wildfires and catastrophic flooding which have cost the EU billions and has reduced water reserves to previously unseen levels. 'We need to think about how we need to use water more efficiently,' EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall told the outlet, stressing that 'when we have a shower, we need to think about it.' A ban on refilling swimming pools is already in place across southern Europe. Haris Sachinis, CEO of Greek water company Eydap, has warned that Athens could completely run out of water within two years if dry conditions persist. Cypriot Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou has warned that 2025 could be the island's third consecutive drought year and among the eight worst for water reserves in half a century. Sweden has also imposed bans on watering gardens with a hose in some areas while In France and Spain, disputes over dams and water rights have fueled tensions between farmers and environmentalists. Last year, the EU's environmental policies, including limits on pesticide use and water usage reductions, led to widespread protests from farmers and agricultural groups across the bloc, including in France, Spain, Germany, and Poland. The EC's draft plan calls for greater investment in the bloc's leaking infrastructure. The EurEau industry group has estimated that some 25% of EU water is lost through pipe leaks, with some countries such as Bulgaria losing up to 60%. The Commission has estimated that €23 billion ($26 billion) is needed annually for upgrades. The European Investment Bank also plans to offer €15 billion ($17 billion) in loans and guarantees between 2025 and 2027 to support the effort. Additionally, researchers found that only 2.4% of water is currently reused in the EU, a figure Brussels wants to raise. Although the savings target is not binding, the Commission is encouraging national targets and better data collection. A recent climate assessment found that only a 'limited number' of countries have adopted water resilience measures. The proposal follows a 2023 warning about rising competition for water and potential cross-border conflicts. The European Central Bank has separately warned that water scarcity poses a financial threat, with surface water shortages potentially affecting nearly 15% of eurozone GDP.
Zawya
26-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Cyprus receives mobile desalination units from UAE to tackle water crisis
Cyprus has received 13 mobile desalination units from the United Arab Emirates, delivered free of charge to help the island deal with a severe water shortage just ahead of the water-intensive tourism season. Cyprus has four large desalination plants with a combined daily water production capacity of about 220,000 cubic metres. The UAE will supply it with 14 mobile desalination units under a bilateral deal, boosting its daily production capacity by about 15,000 cubic metres. While the mobile units are a valuable addition in tackling the water crisis, the situation remains challenging, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said. "This shouldn't make us complacent. People must still use water sparingly," she said as she thanked the UAE for dispatching the units within a matter of weeks. Although Cyprus has a widespread reservoir network, it has increasingly relied on desalination in recent decades to offset declining rainfall. As of Monday, the country's 18 largest reservoirs were only 21.7% full, according to official data. (Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Reuters
26-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Cyprus receives mobile desalination units from UAE to tackle water crisis
NICOSIA, May 26 (Reuters) - Cyprus has received 13 mobile desalination units from the United Arab Emirates, delivered free of charge to help the island deal with a severe water shortage just ahead of the water-intensive tourism season. Cyprus has four large desalination plants with a combined daily water production capacity of about 220,000 cubic metres. The UAE will supply it with 14 mobile desalination units under a bilateral deal, boosting its daily production capacity by about 15,000 cubic metres. While the mobile units are a valuable addition in tackling the water crisis, the situation remains challenging, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said. "This shouldn't make us complacent. People must still use water sparingly," she said as she thanked the UAE for dispatching the units within a matter of weeks. Although Cyprus has a widespread reservoir network, it has increasingly relied on desalination in recent decades to offset declining rainfall. As of Monday, the country's 18 largest reservoirs were only 21.7% full, according to official data.
Nahar Net
24-04-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
UAE offers free-of-charge portable desalination plants to cover Cyprus' water needs
by Naharnet Newsdesk 24 April 2025, 16:27 Cyprus will receive free-of-charge portable desalination plants from the United Arab Emirates to cover the tourism-reliant island nation's water needs this summer as reservoir deposits are nearly depleted, officials said Thursday. Agriculture and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou told the state broadcaster that the UAE agreed to provide Cyprus, at no cost, an undetermined number of desalination plants that will produce a combined 15,000 cubic meters (530,000 cubic feet) of potable water daily. Panayiotou didn't disclose exactly when the units will arrive and become operational, but she said UAE authorities are aware the need is immediate as the summer tourism season kicks into high gear and water needs reach their peak. She said the deal is the result of secret negotiations over the last few months to cover Cyprus water needs that became acute when a fire knocked out one of its five static desalination plants, resulting in cuts to agricultural water supply. Each onshore unit produces 235,000 cubic meters (8.3 million cubic feet) of fresh water daily. The plant won't be back in operation until August and the portable units from the UAE will cover that lost water capacity, said Panayiotou. Technical staff are still trying to work out exactly where the portable units will be placed to maximize their utility, Panayiotou said. She didn't say when those units will be returned to the UAE. Apart from its own desalination plants, Cyprus continues to rely on an extensive reservoir network with a total capacity of 330 million cubic meters. Water levels across the 108 reservoirs — the most relative to population than any other European country — are less than a quarter of their capacity following the second-driest winter in a decade. Reservoirs were at 47.2% capacity in 2024, official figures show. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides disclosed the UAE deal during an interview with local TV station ANT1, hailing the agreement as the result of Cyprus' expanded diplomatic outreach and the friendly relations it has developed particularly with the Emirates and other countries in the region. Panayiotou said irrespective of the UAE assistance, the government's medium- and long-term planning to permanently alleviate the island's water shortages is moving ahead. The planning includes the procurement of four additional mobile desalination plants expected to begin operating in late autumn, each capable of producing 30,000 cubic meters (1 million cubic feet) of drinkable water daily. Another two static desalination plants will be built over the long term, each with a 140,000 cubic meter (5 million cubic feet) daily output. Panayiotou unveiled last month a government plan to subsidize construction of private desalination plants at hotels. Tourism accounts for 13.5% of Cyprus' gross domestic product. Tourist arrivals last year exceeded 4 million people, setting a new record.
24-04-2025
- Business
UAE offers portable desalination plants to cover arid Cyprus' water needs
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- Cyprus will receive free-of-charge portable desalination plants from the United Arab Emirates to cover the tourism-reliant island nation's water needs this summer as reservoir deposits are nearly depleted, officials said Thursday. Agriculture and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou told the state broadcaster that the UAE agreed to provide Cyprus, at no cost, an undetermined number of desalination plants that will produce a combined 15,000 cubic meters (530,000 cubic feet) of potable water daily. Panayiotou didn't disclose exactly when the units will arrive and become operational, but she said UAE authorities are aware the need is immediate as the summer tourism season kicks into high gear and water needs reach their peak. She said the deal is the result of secret negotiations over the last few months to cover Cyprus water needs that became acute when a fire knocked out one of its five static desalination plants, resulting in cuts to agricultural water supply. Each onshore unit produces 235,000 cubic meters (8.3 million cubic feet) of fresh water daily. The plant won't be back in operation until August and the portable units from the UAE will cover that lost water capacity, said Panayiotou. Technical staff are still trying to work out exactly where the portable units will be placed to maximize their utility, Panayiotou said. She didn't say when those units will be returned to the UAE. Apart from its own desalination plants, Cyprus continues to rely on an extensive reservoir network with a total capacity of 330 million cubic meters. Water levels across the 108 reservoirs — the most relative to population than any other European country — are less than a quarter of their capacity following the second-driest winter in a decade. Reservoirs were at 47.2% capacity in 2024, official figures show. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides disclosed the UAE deal during an interview with local TV station ANT1, hailing the agreement as the result of Cyprus' expanded diplomatic outreach and the friendly relations it has developed particularly with the Emirates and other countries in the region. Panayiotou said irrespective of the UAE assistance, the government's medium- and long-term planning to permanently alleviate the island's water shortages is moving ahead. The planning includes the procurement of four additional mobile desalination plants expected to begin operating in late autumn, each capable of producing 30,000 cubic meters (1 million cubic feet) of drinkable water daily. Another two static desalination plants will be built over the long term, each with a 140,000 cubic meter (5 million cubic feet) daily output. Panayiotou unveiled last month a government plan to subsidize construction of private desalination plants at hotels. Tourism accounts for 13.5% of Cyprus' gross domestic product. Tourist arrivals last year exceeded 4 million people, setting a new record.
