A decision on whether or not to establish a ”Gateway to Antarctica” centre in Cape Town will be taken at the end of the year, the Department of Science and Technology said on Friday.
Tenders had been received for a six-month pre-feasibility study, and the service provider picked to compile this report would be chosen at the end of June, said the department’s Dr Tshepo Seekoe.
Earlier, speaking in Cape Town at an event to mark the launch of Antarctica Month, he said a centre could provide logistical and scientific support for international bases located on the world’s coldest and most desolate continent.
Once the pre-feasibility study was complete, in December, the government ”will then make a decision as to whether establishing a centre is worth it, or if it is possible”.
Asked what the cost of establishing such a centre would be, he said this could only be determined after the study.
According to the department’s terms-of-reference document, ”Cape Town harbour has the potential to serve as a prime location for establishing a Gateway Centre to Antarctica”.
In the past, the harbour had served as a launching point for many early sea explorations, and presently serviced eight countries in their Antarctic and South Sea expeditions, it said.
According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, which co-hosted Friday’s event, establishing the centre will further entrench Cape Town’s position as a gateway city, and generate considerable economic benefits.
A Cape Town ”Gateway to Antarctica” would serve as an educational and tourist resource centre, a service provider for Antarctic maritime and aviation requirements, and a research hub.
”With many more countries showing an interest in Antarctica, it is likely that more research stations will be established … in the future,” the department said in a brochure distributed at the event.
South Africa’s SANAE IV Antarctic base is located on a rock outcrop in the region known as Dronning Maudland, named after a Norwegian queen. The base is over 4 000km south of Africa’s southern tip.
Seven other nations have permanent bases in this part of Antarctica — the United Kingdom, India, Russia, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Other so-called gateway cities in the southern hemisphere include Hobart in Tasmania, Christchurch in New Zealand, and Chile’s Punta Arenas. – Sapa