The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor has stated that the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project is firmly on track.
“The rescheduling of 2010/11 expenditure to 2012/13 and beyond is a responsible planning response to ensure SKA benefits from evolving development and telescope redesign,” Minister Pandor said.
She was responding to the Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament, Ms Marian Shinn, who last week issued a media statement asking why spending for the SKA science programme was being cut.
Minister Pandor said “SKA funds are not being cut. The initially expected utilisation of funds has been adjusted to reflect the actual utilisation of funds to date.”
“As Ms Shinn has correctly indicated, the SKA is “large science” project. By the very nature of such projects, the flow of funds needs to be monitored constantly and from time to time, the projected flow will be adjusted.” She added.
This is what has been done with the SKA and Meerkat.
The reasons for this are not based on any external considerations, nor do they suggest a setback in the progress of the South African bid. The adjustments are needed to ensure that the prototype of the SKA, the MeerKat, is closely aligned to the design requirements of the full SKA.
As this is the largest radio astronomy project ever undertaken, modifications and adjustments are necessary while prototypes are being developed. The adjustments are based on our own experiences with the building of MeerKat and from international best practice.
It is envisaged that alignment with the full SKA will further strengthen the bid to host this global telescope. MeerKAT will be the SKA demonstrator telescope because South Africa had an opportunity to review the concept design with the assistance of the global astronomy community representatives.
Minister Pandor further urged the DA to work with the Department of Science and Technology and our partners in ensuring that we win this bid.
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Ministerial Spokesperson
Tel: 012 843 6802
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail:lunga.ngqengelele@dst.gov.za
