Sudan to Establish More Seismic Monitoring Network Stations

The Minister of Minerals, Mohamed Bashir Abdullah, affirmed the ministry intention in cooperation with the Sudan’s Geological Research Authority (GRAS), to establish number of Sudanese seismic monitoring network stations to cover all the country’s states.

At a joint meeting for the development of the Sudanese Seismic Monitoring Network at the Ministry of Minerals today, in the presence of representatives of the ministries of Irrigation, Finance, Interior, Environment, Defense in addition to a number of Directors of research centers and experts, the minister stated that the meeting is an opportunity to learn more about seismic and their risks as well as its importance of exchange of ideas between those involved in the matter.

The minister called for tightening coordination between all entities, in the center and the states, praising the role of the Geological Research Authority in providing consultations and information to all requesting entities.

He expressed his hope for concerted efforts with partners to strengthen the network, appealing on the Ministry of Finance to provide financial allocations for the import of devices and facilitate customs exemptions, stressing the ministry’s progress in the upgraing and training of cadres working in the network.

In the same context, the minister has inaugurated four seismic monitoring devices to be added to the existing stations to cover the areas of El Fasher, Sennar, Soudri and Abu Dulayq in the framework of covering areas that have not been covered before.

Meanwhile, Head of Geological Research Department, Mohammed Abdel Baqi Al-Nateefa , presented a paper on the Sudanese Seismic Network , indicating that the network began with three stations in Khartoum, followed by nearly 12 stations in the states, pointing out that there are some challenges, such as poor coverage, asking to expand

the network to include all states as well as providing the necessary funding to operate the stations.

The acting Director of Geological Research Authority, Osman Hassan Abdulkader, stressed that the current network for monitoring earthquakes does not meet the purpose, a matter which requires to expanding it due to the need to monitor the ground movements and cracks in all its forms in addition to raising awareness of the importance of earthquake centers