DJIBOUTI HAS signed a deal worth $1 billion agreement to build a rocket and satellite launch site.
The deal, signed by Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, and the Chinese firm Hong Kong Aerospace Technology earlier this week, will pave the way to develop infrastructure for the planned site.
Djibouti’s Northern Obock will see the building of port facilities and transportation corridors as part of the project, which will allow Chinese aerospace materials to arrive in the country.
Construction could be finished as early as 2027, according to President Guelleh, and once the 30-year co-management contract with Hong Kong Aerospace Technology has ended, the infrastructure will be handed over to Djibouti.
Djibouti is one of the smallest countries in Africa with a population of just over a million people. However its proximity to the equator makes it an attractive location from which to launch satellites that can take advantage of Earth’s rotational speed and reduce the amount of fuel needed for their ascent.
‘Delighted’
President Guelleh said in a statement he was “delighted to see our country involved in this promising technological and energy development project”.
Although African countries have previously shown an interest in the design and construction of satellites experts say none of the 54 satellites launched by African countries were launched from Africa.
Following the deal Djibouti will join a growing number of African nations with established space programmes. In recent years over 50 satellites have been successfully launched by 14 African nations.
In the wake of this week’s deal space African space experts have highlighted the fact that no African country has launched a satellite from Africa, despite there being interest in satellite design and construction in the past.
Temidayo Oniosun, managing director at the consultancy Space In Africa told African Business magazine: “Hopefully, this move will enable the launch of the first Africa-made satellite from African soil.
Economy
“This project, if successful, will also positively affect the industry across several countries and segments, lead to the establishment of new enterprises and new spinoffs, and would ultimately play a vital role in implementing a continentally driven space programme.”
The desire to boost the economy is the reason why a number of African countries are now developing their space technology. Satellites enable many modern devices to work such as mobile phones and navigation systems.
However for countries like Uganda, which launched its first satellite last year, the aim is to take pictures of the Earth to help determine things like soil fertility and water quality for its agricultural sector.