Science and Technology on land acquisition for SKA construction

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) South Africa Office has begun the process of acquiring 118 000 ha of land for the construction of the world's largest radio telescope.

The design of the first phase (SKA1) was finalised in March and this enabled the planners to determine the extent of land needed to ensure that no radio frequency interference would affect the telescope. SKA1 includes 64 MeerKAT antennas, with an additional 133 antennas, construction of which will commence in 2018 and be completed by 2023.

Owing to South Africa's commitment to host the SKA, additional land must be acquired in the Karoo. This includes the acquisition of 36 farm portions.

The land requirements for the SKA instruments include farms in the Losberg and Meysdam regions, which have been declared Astronomy Advantage Areas in terms of the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act, 2007, to ensure that the MeerKAT/SKA telescopes are protected from harmful radio frequency interference.

The Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act requires the Minister to declare certain parts of the Karoo as core Astronomy Advantage Areas. In 2010 Minister Pandor declared certain areas around the Karoo as core Astronomy Advantage Areas, and on 12 March 2014 she declared more areas as Astronomy Advantage Areas.

Minister Naledi Pandor is in the process of notifying affected residents and property owners of the intention to protect the area by publishing regulations in this regard. The regulations inter alia restrict the use of certain radio frequencies and certain activities around the site and give details of financial compensation measures for affected parties.

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