South Africa has spent R834 million to date on securing the lucrative 1.5 billion-euro Square Kilometre Array (SKA), and will spend another R1.1 billion over the next three years on the project.
However, it is still unclear whether the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has budgeted for the bandwidth requirements for its radio telescope projects and secured the R80 million it said it would need for the projects.
The department, in its 2010 estimates of national expenditure, reveals it has spent R80 million in the 2007/08 financial year and this was increased to R261 million in the 2008/09 financial year. Another R490 million was allocated in the 2009/10 financial year.
Between 2010 and 2012, the DST will spend a further R1.1 billion on the SKA project. A total of R508.9 million will be spent in 2010/11, with the remaining R545.8 million to be spent in the following financial year.
SA is currently in a race against Australia to host the SKA radio telescope. The final decision regarding the successful host country is expected in 2012. Work on the SKA is due to start in 2013, subject to successful funding proposals. It will be constructed in a phased manner, over seven years. Operations will start in 2015, provided a significant portion of the array has been commissioned.
While the DST doesn't explain how the money will be allocated, it is largely expected to be spent on infrastructure, research initiatives and policy development.
Another R155 million had been spent building roads to the site, while R11.5 million was allocated to building accommodation, as well as a shed in which dishes for the SKA and its precursors can be constructed.
Both Australia and SA are in the process of completing demonstrator telescopes. The first precursor, the seven-dish Karoo Array Telescope (KAT) was completed in 2009. KAT will be followed by the 80-dish R900 million MeerKAT.
The DST says the infrastructure layout for the MeerKAT has begun and supporting legislation is being implemented. The department aims to construct seven dishes as part of the MeerKAT telescope by March 2011.
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