Larnaca municipality and the water (SYL) and sewerage Board (SAL) on Tuesday, memoranda of cooperation with the University of Cyprus’ KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence aimed at the digital and green development of Larnaca to better address climate change.

Larnaca mayor Andreas Vyras thanked the centre for its action to address problems and find sustainable solutions.

The aim of the cooperation is to prepare to deal with the extreme weather phenomena and especially the floods that afflict Larnaca.

“Digital and environmental development is the only way. Our goal is to build a ‘smart city,’” he said.

At the same time, University of Cyprus rector Tassos Christofides praised the professors who staff the “KOIOS” centre, saying that their presence attracted the funding that will carry out the project.

“The University of Cyprus is always open for collaborations, I hope that very soon we will have our own research centres in Larnaca as well,” he added.

Larnaca district officer Odysseas Hadjistefanou, who is also president of Larnaca’s water board, said SYL’s mission is the uninterrupted supply of good quality water in sufficient quantities and at affordable prices, a mission which the council has been successfully carrying out for 56 years.

“Our goal is to provide support for the implementation of innovation and research actions in the field of creation, operation, and management of water supply systems,” he said.

The general manager of the Larnaca sewerage board Angelos Hadjicharalambous said that Cyprus is heading into a digital age through reforms.

“We believe in the role of digital transformation to promote the country’s potential for economic, social and environmental long-term growth and prosperity,” he said.

The project is added to a series of actions by Larnaca Municipality to upgrade the quality of life level of its residents.