Breaking news

Cyprus Implements Ambitious Desalination Projects to Secure Water Supply Amid Historic Drought

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Facing an unprecedented drought, Cyprus is set to launch a vast portfolio of desalination projects as part of a government strategy to ensure water security. Proposed by Agriculture Minister Maria Panagiotou and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, the initiative marks the most significant state investment in water infrastructure in over a decade.

Record Investment Reflects National Priority

The comprehensive plan allocates a record €140 million for the purchase of desalinated water by 2026, underlining the government’s commitment to safeguarding drinking water reserves while repurposing dam resources for irrigation. This decisive allocation is designed to counteract the severe water deficits predicted in key districts.

Permanent Installations to Bolster Regional Capacity

Two new permanent desalination facilities are slated for development. The first, scheduled for the eastern region of Limassol, will boast a capacity of 60,000 to 80,000 cubic meters per day, catering to the rapidly growing urban demands that have historically relied on natural sources such as the Kouros dam and groundwater extractions.

The second permanent unit is planned for Dekelia. This replacement project, set to supersede the ageing installation whose contract expires in 2027, will provide 80,000 to 100,000 cubic meters daily. Its strategic location will support water supply needs in both the Ammochostos region and parts of Larnaca, ensuring sustainable access as regional demand escalates.

Mobile Solutions for Immediate Impact

Complementing the large-scale permanent investments, authorities have prioritized the expedited deployment of mobile desalination units. Four projects, already fast-tracked and operational within just three months, will contribute an additional 47,000 cubic meters of water daily by January 2026. In parallel, the Department of Water Development (TAW) is orchestrating the installation of three further mobile units, aiming for operational status before the summer of 2026. Each unit will supply at least 10,000 cubic meters daily for five years.

Strategic Locations for Mobile Units

Deployment plans include:

  • Episkopi (Municipality of Kouros): Situated near British Bases and adjacent to the existing Limassol facility. The tender was announced on 30 September, with contract initiation expected by the end of November and a project delivery timeline of six months, potentially accelerated to four months with performance bonuses.
  • Hellenic Electricity Authority (HEA) at Vassiliko: This unit will operate in tandem with the permanent desalination installation, delivering an additional 10,000 cubic meters daily. The competitive tender is expected to launch by November for a summer 2026 commencement.
  • Ammochostos Free Area: Prioritizing the Agia Napa site, with a subsequent plan for Paralimni – Deryneia, to ensure robust supply to the Protaras tourist district.

TAW will later evaluate the possibility of permanently integrating these mobile units or expanding their capacity and operational duration based on the forthcoming Desalination Feasibility Study.

Enhanced Daily Output and Future Security

Collectively, the seven mobile units (three new and four existing) will add 77,000 cubic meters to the daily water output, surpassing even the combined production of the permanent units at Vassiliko and Paphos. This initiative is projected to boost the proportion of water supplied through desalination by over 32%, ultimately fulfilling 100% of the nation’s water needs. Currently, five permanent plants deliver 235,000 cubic meters each day, covering only 70% of demand.

Crisis Mode: Dwindling Dam Reserves

The Department of Water Development reports that dam levels have tragically fallen to just 10.8% of capacity, compared to 25.9% in the previous year. The Kouros dam, the largest in Cyprus, now registers a mere 9.8% full, a stark drop from 23.5% just last year. This urgent scenario necessitates the rapid enhancement of the nation’s water balance via advanced desalination projects.

Conclusion: A Strategic Turnaround for Cyprus

Minister Panagiotou emphasized that “Cyprus is facing the most severe water scarcity in decades,” and asserted that these projects guarantee uninterrupted access to water for both domestic consumption and irrigation. The government’s forward-looking strategy, emphasizing speed, technological innovation, and environmental stewardship, is set to redefine the nation’s water security framework. With water reserves at historic lows and unpredictable rainfall patterns looming, 2026 is poised to be a landmark year in the sustainable management of Cyprus’s water resources.

Meta’s Muse Is Outpacing ChatGPT In Early Mobile Adoption, New Data Suggests

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Meta’s new AI app, Muse, may be emerging as one of the company’s strongest consumer launches to date. Fresh estimates from market intelligence firm Apptopia suggest the app has outperformed ChatGPT in early mobile traction, at least in the U.S. and Canada.

According to Apptopia, Muse recorded more downloads in its first 12 days on the market than ChatGPT did during the comparable period after its mobile debut. The comparison, limited to the U.S. and Canada, puts Muse’s iOS downloads at 1.8 million versus 1.3 million for ChatGPT over the same initial window.

A Strong Early Start Across Platforms

In total, Muse has reached 2.8 million global installs in its first 12 days, according to the firm. The app’s momentum also appears to be holding. After debuting at No. 2 on the U.S. App Store, Muse has since climbed to No. 1, surpassing ChatGPT, according to reporting from Business Insider. Appfigures had previously estimated that Muse crossed 1 million downloads shortly after launch.

That early rise matters because app-store performance in the first days after launch often signals whether a product can sustain consumer attention beyond initial curiosity. In Meta’s case, the data suggests Muse is not simply benefiting from novelty; it is gaining ground quickly enough to challenge the category leader.

Daily Users Show Similar Momentum

Apptopia’s estimates point to another favorable comparison for Meta: daily usage. In the U.S. alone, Muse is said to have 642,000 daily active users, well above the 231,000 ChatGPT had at the same stage of its mobile rollout.

To make the comparison fairer, Apptopia also narrowed the analysis to iOS only, since ChatGPT launched on iPhone before expanding more broadly. Even under that tighter lens, Muse still comes out ahead, with 359,000 daily active users on iOS compared with ChatGPT’s earlier figure.

Why Meta Has An Advantage

Third-party estimates are not the same as internal company data, and Apptopia cannot see Meta’s proprietary numbers. Still, even directional data suggests Muse may be on track to become a meaningful consumer product for Meta.

That possibility is strengthened by Meta’s distribution advantage. The company has already demonstrated how powerful its ecosystem can be with Threads, which surpassed 500 million users after heavy promotion across Instagram and Facebook. Muse is likely to receive a similar boost, especially because it can connect across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Apptopia does not track Meta’s internal promotion strategy, but its data indicates that more than 95% of Muse users are also Facebook users, while 63% are Instagram users. That overlap underscores how effectively Meta can move users across its products when it chooses to prioritize a launch.

The Strategic Test For Meta

For Meta, the early signal from Muse is less about one app’s download count than about whether the company can turn its scale into durable AI adoption. The first test is attention. The harder one is retention.

If Muse can convert early downloads into habitual use, Meta may have found a new front door into its AI ambitions. If not, the app risks becoming another example of how easily mobile hype can spike before settling back down.

Meta, which was asked for comment, has not yet released public figures on Muse’s early adoption.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
eCredo
Aretilaw firm
Uol

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter