A leading Australian newspaper’s claim that negotiations with the preferred bidder for hosting the giant Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope are already under way, has been dismissed as “speculation”.
And SA’s two representatives on the SKA Organisation’s international board of directors both say they know nothing about it.
However, tensions are rising ahead of the scheduled board meeting on April 4, where there is the first possibility for a firm decision between sites proposed by SA and its eight African partners, and by Australia in partnership with New Zealand.
The Australians are upping the ante to counter what they apparently believe is political sympathy for the African bid.
Senator Chris Evans, Australia’s minister for science and research, will lead a high-level delegation to China and Italy next weekend to promote the Australasian bid. He will also visit the UK and the Netherlands early next month, just weeks before the first vote on the site.
The four countries he’s targetting – China, Italy, the UK and the Netherlands – are all founder members of the SKA Organisation and will between them effectively make the site decision.
Evans made it clear that he planned to counter what he perceived as sympathy support for the Africa bid with its developmental emphasis, and to push for a straight “scientific vote”. He also took a thinly disguised swipe at Africa’s economic and political stability.
According to an official transcript of a “doorstop” exchange with journalists, he said: “We’ll get the scientific recommendation in the next week or so, but we think there’ll then be a process where countries analyse not only the scientific recommendation, but other aspects of the bid. That’s why we need to, if you like, be in their faces, making it clear that we are serious...
“I think we’ve got to be realistic. I think we’ve got the best site and we’ve got the best scientific investment, if you like, and capacity. But I think it’s also the case that in Europe there is some sympathy for the need to help Africa develop.
“But I want to make it clear, this isn’t a development project. This is a 50-year science project and we’ve got to make sure we’ve got the best science and the best site. Australia’s got that, but we’ve got to convince people of that.”
He continued: “We think in addition to our site and science advantages, the fact that Australia-New Zealand is economically strong, is very politically stable, will allow us to say to people: ‘If you’re going to invest in a project that is of 50 years’ duration, then you’re going to make sure you’re investing in a place that can get a project of this size up and running and do it in an environment where there is low risk’.”
The Sydney Morning Herald carried a report which stated: “Australia and New Zealand are in a neck-and-neck race with South Africa... A recommendation on the preferred site was made in confidence to the project’s board of directors in London overnight. Negotiations with the preferred site are now under way, ahead of a final decision by April.”
But this was dismissed by SKA Organisation media spokesman Colin Greenwood, who told the Cape Argus: “I can confirm that the report to which you refer is speculation as no official announcement has been made. I can also confirm that the board of directors did not meet last night.”
SA’s two board members, Dr Val Munsami and Dr Bernie Fanaroff, said they’d not been aware of any board meeting. - Cape Argus