To address the emergency water shortage needs on the island of Andros, targeted solutions are being promoted, under the coordination of the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Stefanos Ghikas.
Specifically, the General Secretariat for Aegean and Island Policy, in collaboration with the Municipality of Andros, is implementing a plan to address the acute problem of drought and water scarcity affecting the island, which includes the issuance of a total of 4 permits for the temporary operation of desalination units, as well as emergency funding of 190,000 euros for the lease of a desalination unit and the drilling of boreholes.
More specifically, within the framework of the overall planning for the island of Andros, the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Stefanos Gikas, signed yesterday the permit for the temporary installation and operation of a desalination unit, with a capacity of 600 m3/d, in the Municipal Community of Batsi, on behalf of the Municipality of Andros, following 3 other decisions that have already been issued for the siting of desalination units in Korthi, Gavrio and Andros Town.
The relevant zoning/permits are deemed absolutely necessary and decisive in order to support the water supply system of the local community of Batsi and other areas – due to the fact of the reduction in the water reserves drawn from the existing wells in the areas.
The Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Stefanos Gikas, stated:
“The emergency situation documented by the Municipality of Andros was brought to the attention of our competent services and, with the coordination of the Secretary General of Aegean and Island Policy, Manolis Koutoulakis, the choice of the exceptional location of a Desalination Unit to support the water supply system in Batsi, Andros, was promoted.”
I would like to point out that the request of the Municipality of Andros was submitted to the General Secretariat for Aegean and Insular Policy on 25/7/2025 and was able to come to fruition in less than seven days, since yesterday, I signed the issuance of the temporary operating permit for the desalination unit. The urgency of initiating immediate solutions, the exemplary cooperation of the General Secretariats for Aegean and Insular Policy and Natural Environment and Water of the Ministry of National Economy and Tourism as well as the Mayor of Andros, Mr. Th. Sousoudis, are bearing fruit.
The Directorate of Studies, Projects, Natural Resources and Energy of the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy, implementing the Special Action Plan to address water scarcity prepared for the year 2025, has already approved more than 35 emergency operating licenses for desalination plants on more than 20 different islands, while at the same time, in close cooperation with the General Secretariat for the Natural Environment and Water, funding has been promoted for island local authorities that collectively exceed 20,000,000 euros for immediate water supply needs.
It is noted that since the beginning of the year, upon the recommendation of the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Stefanos Ghikas, funding exceeding 7,500,000 euros has been signed by the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, for the implementation of projects and interventions in the water supply sector.
