Again, islands will need water shipments
Cash-strapped Greece will once more have to spend around 2.2 million euros to ship fresh water to arid islands around the Aegean archipelago as plans to operate desalination plants on the 10 driest islands look like they will be put off for yet another year.
General Secretary for the Aegean Yiannis Yiannelis-Theodosiadis last week signed an agreement with a private firm to supply a total of 168,100 cubic meters of drinking water from June through September to the islands of Patmos, Kimolos, Amorgos, Leipsoi, Kastelorizo, Lero, Irakleia, Donousa, Agathonisi and Symi.
From 2006 and until last year, the state spent 71 million euros on providing islands with drinking water. This compares badly to the entire cost of infrastructure for desalination plants on these islands, which has been estimated at 3.1 million euros.
The cost of transportation comes to 10.40 euros per cubic meter, or 1.7 million euros, according to the terms of the new contract. The state will also have to come up with an additional 618,000 euros, which it owes the same company for shipments in April and May. The firm, meanwhile, has threatened to halt shipments unless it is paid the arrears.
Units for turning sea water into drinking water have already been paid for for seven of the 10 islands, though none are in operation.
