Agia Thekla

The Agia Thekla plant is planned for the beach area beside Ayia Napa marina and the Agia Thekla church, in the free Famagusta district. The cabinet approved it on 2 September 2026 at 30,000 m³ a day, subject to all approvals and permits. The area is now supplied from the plants at Dhekelia, Larnaca and Vasilikos.

The plant grew out of a dispute. The government first planned a temporary 15,000 m³ a day unit near Nissi beach. The Famagusta district water organisation, the municipality and hoteliers opposed it, citing the beaches and the lack of consultation. At a meeting chaired by the minister on 27 February 2026, the project moved to Agia Thekla as a permanent plant, and local authorities and hoteliers signed minutes accepting responsibility for any shortage this causes in 2027. The tender for the temporary unit closed without award in July 2026, and the cabinet cancelled it on 2 September.

The site lies inside a Natura 2000 area and near a listed monument, so it needs an appropriate assessment. In July 2026 the Water Development Department (WDD) gave January 2029 for full operation; in September the minister said 2030. No operator or cost has been announced. The brief for the feasibility studies allows for 40,000 m³ a day, and also asks for a scenario without the plant.