Talatona - The Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technology and Media, Mário de Oliveira, on Friday stressed the importance of raising the interest of children, young people and adults in space exploration to learn the positive impact that space technologies have on the country's development.

The minister made the statement at the opening of the World Space Week taking place from October 4 to 10 through the promotion of various activities, such as lectures, film screenings and competitions in schools and universities, with the aim to publicize the benefits of space science and technology.

Mário de Oliveira highlighted the use of space technology and artificial intelligence to geo-referenced around 11 million buildings in Angola to boost property tax collection, having highlighted the crucial role of space applications to tackle environmental disasters.

According to the minister, in three years 43 oil spills have been detected thanks to these technologies, which has helped to prevent environmental incidents in the country.

The minister also highlighted the partnership with NASA to develop a tool to monitor the drought in southern Angola, using Earth observation data.

“As a result, 45 Angolan technicians were trained in the use of satellite data for climate analysis and monitoring severe droughts between 2015 and 2023,” the minister said.

As part of the project to modernize the National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (INAMET), the minister highlighted the installation of 77 meteorological stations across the country, including seven aeronautical stations and three automated stations.

Held under the theme “Space and Climate Change”, the World Space Week is organized by the National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN), with the support of INAMET, INACOM and FADCOM.

The event aims to highlight Angolan initiatives to mitigate the effects of climate change and the use of space technology in environmental monitoring. GIZ/OHA/AMP