Project development by the Kazakhstan Aerospace Agency

Published: 5/15/2000

Local reports have suggested that Kazakhstan intends to launch its own low-altitude satellite. Chairman of the Kazakhstan Aerospace Agency, Meirbek Moldabekov, said the agency has already received offers of assistance in developing the project from a number of sources including Russia, the Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The satellite, according to Moldabekov, would be primarily for telecommunications functions, but could also be used for observation of the Kazakhstan oil and gas pipeline network. The funding for the six-year 2.5-billion tenge ($17.5m) programme will largely come from non-budget sources, as state support for the programme will be small. The agency reports that it is negotiating a number of deals to provide the funding. Earlier reports have suggested that the Kazaks might cooperate closely with Russian producer RKK Energia on the $800m Yamal telecommunications satellite programme, which is being funded by a number of Russian and foreign investors. Kazakhstan's problems with the Russians over Baikonur appear to be resolving themselves with reports that the rent of the cosmodrome had been agreed for the first half of 2000. The rent is reportedly $90m and will be paid 25% in cash and the balance in unspecified goods, although military equipment has in the past been a large part of the payment.

Article ID: 1771