CYPRUS hopes to meet all its water needs through desalination by 2011, when two new plants for the process are completed. The total demand for water in Cyprus amounts to 90 million cubic metres annually, which works out at approximately 140 litres per person per day.

“One of the government’s priorities was freeing the water supply from its dependence on rainfall,” said Aegli Pantelaki, from the Agriculture Ministry.

By the end of 2011 this aim will have been realised with the four permanent desalination hopein to be operational by then.

The total output of all desalination plants is scheduled to amount to 262,000 cubic metres of fresh water per day, where the needs of Cyprus’ consumers currently add up to a total of 246,575m³ per day. According to Giorgos Petrocostas, officer within the Agriculture Ministry, it is estimated that the four facilities will meet Cyprus’ water needs until 2018.

Pantelaki’s remarks were made at a recent press conference to promote two coming exhibitions with an environmental bent: Savenergy 2010 and Envirotec 2010.

Savenergy 2010 will present technologies and initiatives for the conservation of electrical energy and greener methods of power generation, while Envirotec 2010 is to have as its focus water conservation and management initiatives. Both conferences will run concurrently over March 12-14 at the state fairgrounds.

The conferences will also provide the opportunity for the presentation of educational material and information on the environmental initiatives being taken in Cyprus, and environmental products and services available to businesses and consumers.

Paris Anastasiou, Development Officer with OEV, highlighted the opportunity these conferences provide for people to find out which environmental initiatives, programmes and policies are being promoted by governmental departments and services.

“We must not forget that wasting energy harms not just our pockets but also the environment of our country,” said Giorgos Petousis, the Deputy General Director of EAC. He elaborated that the primary reason for this was that 95 per cent of the island’s electricity is generated in oil-burning power stations.

According to Solon Kasinis, Energy Director of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism by 2008 Cyprus had managed to provide for 4.5 per cent of its electricity requirements by means of renewable energy resources.

There are two wind farms in Cyprus, which between them have the capacity to generate 113.5MW of electricity, and two photovoltaic ‘solar parks’ which between them generate 3.33MW.

“Electricity efficiency is the fastest and most effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve our environment,” said Kasinis.