Peace River to Cyprus from Turkey
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INTERCOUNTRY WATER TRANSFER 2014 Peace River to Cyprus from Turkey Hydropolitics Academy 11.11.2014 1 Report No.: 6 Peace River to Cyprus from Turkey INTERCOUNTRY WATER TRANSFER 2 REPORT NO.:6 Title of Report : Peace River to Cyprus from Turkey Drafters of the Report: Dursun YILDIZ1,Cuma ÇAKMAK2 Contributions: Prof. Dr. Murat TÜRKEŞ , Prof. Dr. Ersoy YILDIRIM Prof. Dr. Doğan YAŞAR , Dr. S. Saim EFELERLİ Dr. Nüvit SOYLU , Ediz EKİNCİ Albay (E) , Av. Özdemir ÖZBAY ABOUT THE REPORT Gas-politics and Hydro-politics in 21st century have been incorporated into Petro-politics which defined the policies in the cold war period. That state highlights the Hydro-geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean. Limited water resources is one of the factors which affects international relations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Therefore, it is important that rational management of water in the region and international co-operation programs be developed. First and foremost step to render regional stability sustainable is building confidence, and implementing policies which are to ratchet up international co-operation and interdependency. Turkey's project to transfer water to Cyprus by a pipeline sets an example for the region to ensure that climate of confidence. Water scarcity on the Island of Cyprus, which is even today going through a stress, is highly likely to become much worse with the impact of climate change. “The Water Transmission Project to Cyprus by a Pipeline” is a very important step forward for a co-operation to be created over water. Such a co-operation would raise the Hydro-politics and Geopolitics importance of the Island of Cyprus which has become a hub for transportation network of energy resources. We wish that this report drafted by contributions of the members of Hydropolitics Academy in their respective disciplines would contribute to regional peace and stability. Respectfully Executive Board of Hydropolitics Academy 1 Civil Engineer, Expert on Water Policies, General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works Former Senior Executive 2 Civil Engineer,Expert on Water Management and Planning . General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works Former Senior Executive 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary................................................................................................ 5 1. Water Potential of the TRNC and its Use......................................................... 7 2. Peace River Project to Cyprus..........................................................................15 3.Economy of the TRNC ...................................................................................... 25 4. The New CYPRUS Energy and Water will Shape.......................................... 28 5. Conclusion........................................................................................................... 31 Copyright © 2014 Hydropolitics Academy Any reproduction in full or in part of this publication must mention the title and credit the Hydropolitics Academy as the copyright owner. 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Scarcity of water resources highlights one of the factors which will continue to affect international relations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Transnational and regional scale co- operation programs are needed for the implementation of sustainable water policies in the region. The first step to this end is building an environment of confidence by taking into account the rights of each country and acknowledging the decisive role of water in sustaining the regional peace and stability. Seeking solutions which remains on the agenda in different parts of the world for a sustainable water management leads new co-operation policies in the international arena. Adoption of a rational water management policy is of high importance for these solution policies to be more effective. It is also important that countries in the region in this framework go for a co-operation for the future in water management of the Mediterranean region. Global climate change makes rational management of water mandatory in the Eastern Mediterranean and throughout the world. New approaches toward water management must be taken in the shortest time possible. Turkey, taking a very important step in the water co- operation, has already linked a river from its geography to Cyprus. Turkey has implemented the Peace River Project assuming expenses in financial and technical areas as well as the security measures. Within that context, it would be a more rational policy for the international community to be in quest of co-operation over this project for the future of the region instead of denying Turkey's approach solely with a political rhetoric. Total 125.98million m3/year of water is used in the TRNC, of which 24,65 million m3 is for potable water and 101,33 million m3 for irrigation. 18 million m3 of that amount is sea water entering Güzelyurt aquifer due to excessive drawing of groundwater. It is estimated in the demand projections for 2035 that need for potable water and tourism and industrial water will be 54 million m3/year3. Having a total of 129,000 hectares of irrigable land, the TRNC will need 649 million m3 of water should the whole area be irrigated with modern technologies4. Taking into consideration the fact that 101,58 m3of water presently has been consumed for agricultural irrigation and that low added-value of this water, a reality arises that entails a different approach in dealing with agricultural sector in the TRNC. 3 “TRNC Water Master Plan Report” Merkez Project Engineering Co. Ltd., Baget Engineering Consultancy Trade Co., Hidro Dizayn Engineering Consultancy Construction Tourism and Trade Co. Ltd., General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, Office of Research and Plans. December, 2003, Ankara. 4ibid 5 In this context, selection of a specific pattern of a plant which acclimatizes with the climate and ecology of the Island and needs marginal amount of irrigation water poses a necessity. Regarding that, it would be technically and economically more rational to allot a ratio of 80% of water brought from Turkey for services sector. Within this approach, rational, planful and productive use of water offers a huge opportunity in terms of socio-economic development of the Island and contribution to the resolution of political instability in the region. Recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region has further increased the importance of the Peace River Project in building regional cooperation and confidence. Respectfully Executive Board of Academy 6 The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power. Hugh White 1. The TRNC's Water Potential and Water Utilization5 Introduction With a size of 3,355 km2, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (the TRNC) constitutes one thirds of the Island of Cyprus. Country's economy by and large relies on agriculture, tourism (16,000 total bed amount) and education. The population is 286,000. As citrus underpins a great deal part of agricultural production, olive and vegetable production is being made for domestic consumption. Modern irrigation techniques are applied in the majority of irrigated agricultural land6. The modernization of irrigation systems has been implemented since 1998 for the effective use of water, and about 80% of it has been completed7. Prime Minister İrsen Küçük stated on 22 March 2011 that the drip irrigation system had been put into practice over the last three years in an area of 6,000 hectares8. 5Yaşar, Doğan, Yıldız, Dursun, "Global Chess in the Eastern Mediterranean" Truva Publication, 2012, Istanbul. 6 ASP, Agricultural Structure and Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Agriculture, TRNC, 1996-2003. 7 ASP, Agricultural Structure and Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Agriculture, TRNC, 1996-2003. 8http://www. kibrispostasi. com/index. php/cat/35/news/49832. Access 1 Feb 2014. 7 Climate and Precipitation The Island of Cyprus has an arid and semi-arid climate and rainfall is unsteady with regard to place and time. For instance, whilst 500 mm of annual average of rainfall is received across the Island, the amount the TRNC holds an average of 373.3 mm9.Amount of the evaporation which is an important element of water budget corresponds to 80% of annual precipitation average10. Based on long-term average, annual rainfall falling on the entire Island of Cyprus varies between 250 mm and 720 mm11.However, this average of annual rainfall is reduced by 40%over 30 years due to climate irregularities. The aftereffect has reduced the amount of surface water flowing into dams by between 20%and 60%. None of the streams in the TRNC shows a continuous flow in a yearlong period12. 9 http://kktcmeteor. org/meteorolojikbilgi/kibris-iklimi. aspx. Access 2 Feb 2014. 10 Goymen, H. (b), Meteorolojik bilgi hk. Rapor. (no. M9/03/100), Bayındırlık ve Ulaştırma Bakanlığı, Meteoroloji Dairesi, TRNC, 2003. 11 “TRNC Water Master Plan Report” Merkez Project Engineering Co. Ltd., Baget Engineering Consultancy Trade Co., Hidro Dizayn Engineering Consultancy Construction Tourism and Trade Co. Ltd., General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, Office of Research and Plans. December, 2003, Ankara. 12 Ibid 8 As seen from these facts, there is no dependable surface water stream available on the Island ,and water supply is secured relying on the rainfall that fosters the groundwater. The Island suffers a hydrological drought at about 3-year intervals and during those times excessive volume of groundwater withdrawal has been done to supply water