Kenya Receives First PUMA-2025 Station to Receive Data from Next-Generation Meteosat Satellites
Today, a significant milestone was achieved in Nairobi, Kenya, with the installation of the first PUMA-2025 receiving station, specifically designed to capture data from the next-generation Meteosat geostationary satellites. This new infrastructure will equip Kenyan meteorologists with the most accurate and up-to-date data from the Meteosat-Third Generation (MTG) satellites, playing a crucial role in supporting the sustainable development of local communities and safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
EUMETSAT and African Union Collaboration
This installation is part of a broader initiative led by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) in collaboration with the African Union Commission. Over the coming months, similar stations will be established in several national weather and climate services across Africa. This effort aims to empower African meteorologists and scientists with cutting-edge technology to receive and utilise MTG data, enhancing their ability to monitor and respond to weather patterns.
Phil Evans, EUMETSAT’s Director-General, highlighted the importance of this development: “The African Union and EUMETSAT signed an agreement in 2022 to ensure that the right infrastructure would be implemented to empower African users with data from MTG. The milestone we just passed ensures continuity of satellite data reception across the continent, enabling more efficient early warnings for all, more accurate forecasting of extreme weather events, and better protection for all.”
Advancing Africa’s Meteorological Capabilities
EUMETSAT’s Meteosat satellites are the only Earth observation satellites constantly viewing Africa. With the advent of the MTG satellites, African meteorologists will benefit from higher-resolution images and more frequent data updates—every 10 minutes—allowing for enhanced monitoring of weather conditions and more accurate predictions. Therefore, the installation in Nairobi marks the beginning of a new era for African meteorological services, building on nearly two decades of progress. In addition, the first PUMA station, installed in February 2004, was designed to receive data from the Meteosat-Second Generation (MSG) satellites as part of the Preparation for Use of Meteosat in Africa (PUMA) project. Supported by various EU-funded programmes like PUMA, AMESD, and MESA, this infrastructure has enabled African weather and climate services to efficiently receive and use Meteosat data to forecast and monitor extreme weather events.
Future Installations and Enhancements
The upgrade to PUMA-2025 stations is accompanied by comprehensive training programs to ensure that meteorologists can maximise the benefits of the new technology and manage local maintenance effectively. Also, the next installation is scheduled for Cotonou, Benin, which will also host the 16th EUMETSAT User Forum in Africa. Furthermore, this event will provide a valuable opportunity for African meteorologists to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and discuss ways to enhance Early Warning systems using the latest Meteosat data.
In addition, deploying PUMA-2025 stations across Africa represents a significant leap forward in the continent’s ability to monitor weather patterns, predict extreme weather events, and protect its populations. Thus, by ensuring that African meteorologists have access to the latest satellite data and technology, EUMETSAT and the African Union are paving the way for a safer and more resilient future for communities across the continent.