This was confirmed yesterday by the Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), Mr. Ahmed Rufai, while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology chaired by Usaq Akinlade.

The MD then pleaded that more money be appropriated for the construction of two new equipment, as the business viability of the communication satellites in Nigeria was not in doubt.

He, however, said though the satellite had been lost forever, the underwriters had already agreed to replace it with a new one and negotiations over the 112 million Euros insurance policy was ongoing.

According to him, the loss of the highly publicised satellite was not due to a manufacture defect, but caused by solar flare, which also damaged the solar panels of six other similar satellites that fateful November 9, 2008

“The first incident occurred on April 17, 2008 when half of the power was lost from the South Solar Array due to a single event offset leaving the North Solar Array as the only source of power,” he told the committee.

“Unfortunately, a similar incident occurred on the Northern Solar Panel Array on November 9, 2008 at about 10:34 p.m Nigerian time during a non-eclipse position.

The batteries are only supposed to discharge during eclipse and recharge when in non-eclipse position, while the solar array acts as the source of power to the satellite,” he said.

According to him, Nigerian engineers monitoring the satellite noticed it immediately and communicated to the Chinese manufacturers, saying both team then worked tirelessly but, in vain to revive NigComsat – 1.

“Regretfully, all effort to recover power supply to the power panel failed. The satellite was consequently de-orbited to avoid total loss of power and control which would result in damages to other satellites in orbit or even aircraft in flights,” he said, adding: “The satellite has now been manoeuvred to the parking orbit and cannot be recovered for use again.”

On insurance, he said: “We wish to state unequivocally that NigComSat – 1 is fully insured to the tune of 112 million Euros in accordance with industry standards by renowned international underwriters with proven integrity.

The ground segment including the Ground Station and equipment are necessarily insured under a separate policy by local underwriters.”

He then asked that the Committee help it convince the Federal Government to approve the commencement of  the utilisation of a $500 million concessionary loan from the Chinese  Expert Import Bank for the construction of NigComsat 2 and 3.

He also asked that the company be allowed to discuss with the Chinese government and the satellite manufacturer on reassigning of an emergency satellite with technical specification similar to the lost satellite in orbit or in advance stage of construction.

Minister summons fact-finding meeting

Meanwhile, Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs. Grace Ekpiwhre, has summoned top government officials in the ministry to ascertain the true situation of the satellite.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Science and Technology in Abuja, yesterday in attendance at the meeting were the Managing Director of NigComSat, Mr. Ahmed Rufai and the DG of National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Prof Robert Boroficce.

Also at the meeting were chief executives of technical departments of the ministry, including the Minister of State, Dr.Alhassan Bako Zaku, and the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Raymond Ezenwa.

According to the statement, the meeting which lasted over three hours, received detailed briefing from chief executives of the corporate agencies concerned —NigComSat and NASRDA.

“During the meeting, all the critical issues concerning the current status of the satellite, the technical agreement between Nigeria and China, the insurance of the satellite, the fate of the clientele, the security of the satellite and the data were fully and exhaustively discussed,” it said.

The minister who was outside the country on official assignment during the controversy trailing the packed satellite expressed concern about the situation. She, however, constituted a high-powered committee to look into the issues in its entire ramification and make suggestion that would not compromise Nigeria’s national interest.

“Despite the temporary setback experienced in the implementation of the nation’s satellite project, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology was optimistic on the future and potentials of the project and view the concern and media attention on the issue as a veritable signs of patriotism but crave the continual support of the media in the attainment of this vision.

An internal Crisis Management Team (CMT) is already in place and is currently working with the manufacturers, CGWIC, the Technical Consultants in Canada and the underwriters to conclude the Fault Tree analyses and commence discussions on the insurance policy.

“The company has also contacted the President of CGWIC who expressed the corporation’s commitment towards resolving this crisis with finality. This commitment is particularly significant to the future of Sino-Nigeria relations.”

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