Environmental plan for South African segment of SKA radio telescope gazetted

The Integrated Environmental Management Plan (IEMP) for the Phase 1 of the Square Kilometre Array mid-frequency array (SKA1_MID) was gazetted by Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane on Friday, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (Sarao) announced on Monday. The SKA is an international project to construct the world’s biggest radio telescope array and South Africa will host its mid-frequency component, with the low-frequency component being hosted by Australia. This is the first IEMP to be adopted at the national level in South Africa. It is required under the National Environmental Management Act and sets out a consolidated plan which covers environmental monitoring and control actions, long-term research programmes monitoring the SKA site in the Karoo region, as well as the minimum construction and operation requirements for the SKA1_MID. “The development of the IEMP for the first phase of the SKA, and the gazetting of its adoption by Minister Mokonyane, is yet another milestone towards the realisation of the SKA mid-frequency array in South Africa,” highlighted Sarao MD Dr Rob Adam. “It follows soon after the signing of the SKA Convention (and the forming of the intergovernmental Organisation) and one month after the approval of the detailed design of the infrastructure and power for the SKA in South Africa.”