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SKA: funding and ownership negotiations continue, project director says

According to News24, intense negotiations continue after South Africa won its bid to host the massive Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope. Dr Bernie Fanaroff, SKA South Africa project director told News24 that although organisers have finished negotiating the SKA site, other negotiations are ongoing. "The two key agreements we're busy with now are the funding agreement and the hosting agreement," he said. Hosting duties of participating countries have to be finalised as well, while customs policies on equipment and the issuing of work visas for staff still need to be hammered out.
SKA: funding and ownership negotiations continue, project director says

"We're having to discuss with (participating countries) who will own the site; who will own the telescope; what is the time scale for them moving onto the site; how will we hand over control of the MeerKAT, for instance," said Fanaroff. The global financial meltdown has also had an impact on funding for the science project. Member countries of the SKA have committed to financing the project, but many have opted to contribute in kind rather than in cash. The project is estimated to cost around R16.7bn, News24 reports.

Read the full article on www.news24.com.

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