The Russian consortium Intersputnik ISS is the only one to volunteer to construct and commission the Colombian satellite, it was announced Tuesday.
The consortiums Telesat of Canada and SES New Skies of the Netherlands declined to participate in the process on the grounds that the policies established by Colombia’s government were too demanding and there was too much risk involved in submitting a proposal in Colombian pesos.
The Viceminister of Communications stated that the government will carefully review the Russian proposal in order to assess whether it meets Colombian requirements, reported news station Caracol.
The Viceminister indicated that if the proposal does comply with demands made for the national satellite then proceedings will take place at the start of December to secure a contract with the Russians.
The government has designated an alleged half a billion pesos for the project and is expecting to close a deal for its construction by December 21.
There are those who are concerned that Colombia’s aerospace career could end up in the hands of the Russians and not the United States – who are Colombia’s main military allies – but should the proposal be confirmed and signed the Ministry of Communications stated that the satelite would be launched into orbit during the first half of 2012.
