May 27, 2019 (Ezega.com) -- Ethiopia and China have signed agreement to jointly build a communication and broadcast satellite, according to FBC report.
The agreement was signed by in Addis Ababa by Dr. Solomon Belay, Director General of Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute, and Han Chinping, Deputy President of Chinese Rocket Company.
The satellite will be built by experts from both Ethiopia and China and will be locally sourced for 50% of the raw materials, according to the report.
Ethiopia’s Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing Satellite ETRSS-1 will be launched into space in November 2019, the Ministry said.
Late last year, Ethiopia disclosed plans to launch satellite in September 2019 with China’s backing, according to Reuters report.
Commenting about the project at the time, the head of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI), Solomon Belay, said “the main mission of this space satellite is to monitor climate change and assess environmental issues such as proper application of water resources, mining activities and other activities related to environmental purposes.”