Turkey to construct dam to supply water to Cyprus

Turkey has announced plans to construct a dam at Dragon Creek, Mersin, to supply water to the drought-hit Island of Cyprus.

The water from the Alakopru Dam will be provided to northern Cyprus through an 80km long submarine pipeline installed 120m deep in the Mediterranean Sea.

The pipeline will be able to provide about 75 million cubic metres of water every year to the island.

15 million cubic metres of the total capacity of the pipeline is expected to be used as potable water while the remaining water will be used for irrigation purpose.

Turkey State Minister Kursad Tuzmen was quoted by Hurriyet as saying that the design work for the project will be finalised next year.

"This project will be implemented to help TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) fight drought and carry out irrigated farming," Tuzmen added.

Turkey initiated the project work in 1998 and contracted Turkish company Alarko for the construction work, and a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Turkish State Hydraulic Works and Alarko in 2005.

Hwever, the Greek Cypriots rejected the offer and have been providing water to the southern part of the divided island through tankers from Greece

The annual capacity of the pipeline is expected to exceed the requirements of northern Cyprus; the additional water may be offered to the southern Greek Cypriot area as a goodwill gesture.

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Image: Turkey will transport water to Cyprus through an 80km pipeline from the Alakopru Dam. Photo: Bidgee.