By Charles Lotara, SSMJ Juba, Tuesday (September 17, 2024) – The South Sudanese government and the Embassy of India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a seismic observatory center in Kolye West village, located in Rejaf Payam, Central Equatoria State. The MoU was signed on Friday, with Dr. Cosmas Pitia Kujjo, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Mining, representing the government of South Sudan, and Vishnu Kumar Sharma, the Indian Ambassador to South Sudan, represen
By Charles Lotara, SSMJ
Juba, Tuesday (September 17, 2024) – The South Sudanese government and the Embassy of India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a seismic observatory center in Kolye West village, located in Rejaf Payam, Central Equatoria State.
The MoU was signed on Friday, with Dr. Cosmas Pitia Kujjo, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Mining, representing the government of South Sudan, and Vishnu Kumar Sharma, the Indian Ambassador to South Sudan, representing India.
The agreement states that the Indian Embassy will provide funding, and the Ministry of Mining will oversee project regulation and promotion.
The Geological Society of South Sudan first proposed the observatory's concept in August 2023.
Known as the Quick Impact Project (QIP), the construction of the observatory, which will also function as a geological data center, has now been opened for tender.
During the signing ceremony, Minister of Mining Martin Gama Abucha expressed his gratitude to the Indian government and emphasized the national security significance of the center.
"Today, we’ve signed an MoU with the embassy to construct this seismological site in collaboration with the Geological Society of South Sudan, led by Ajak, who has fostered a strong relationship with the Geological Society of India, facilitating this project’s creation," Abucha said during the media briefing.
He went on to express his enthusiasm for the initiative, highlighting the contributions of the Ministry of Mining’s technical team.
"We are deeply thankful to the undersecretary and all the director generals and staff for their hard work. We expect to launch the foundation stone soon, and within the next six to nine months, the center should be operational," he added.
Abucha stressed that the MoU marks the beginning of a broader partnership between South Sudan and India.
"This is just the first of many collaborations between our countries’ geological societies. The center will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of our people by monitoring earthquakes and delivering timely information," the minister noted.
India’s Ambassador to South Sudan, Vishnu Kumar Sharma, emphasized the Indian government’s commitment to advancing South Sudan’s scientific capabilities.
"Establishing this seismological station reflects our dedication to building the technical expertise of South Sudanese geoscientists," Sharma stated.
"This facility is essential not only for disaster management but also for enhancing mining and mineral resource management. Having access to this data will attract investment, and it will be shared globally for scientific research."
Ajak Ateng, president of the Geological Society of South Sudan, expressed his appreciation for the support received from both governments.
During his visit to India, he explained how the donation of seismological equipment from the Geological Society of India became possible through the Itex program.
"On behalf of the geoscientists in this country, we are thrilled by the support from the Ministry of Mining, the Indian Embassy, and the Geological Society of India. During my visit to India, I shared South Sudan’s need for this equipment, and they generously donated it. This achievement is also thanks to the guidance of our undersecretary and the contributions of our other partners," Ateng said.
Before the signing ceremony, Ajak received instructions to start the tendering process in order to find a qualified engineering firm to begin construction.
The South Sudan Mining Journal also established that the observatory center, a 50 x 50 structure, is expected to employ at least 100 people, from support to technical staff.