Kenya has installed the first of the PUMA-2025 receiving stations in Nairobi to receive data from the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellites. This will provide Kenyan meteorologists with the most accurate and frequent data for community development and protection.
The European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the African Union are working together to establish a network of these stations across Africa. This network will empower meteorologists and scientists with the latest technology to effectively use MTG data.
Meteosat satellites provide a unique continuous view of Africa, with MTG providing higher-resolution images every 10 minutes. This agreement, signed in 2022, ensures the infrastructure supports better early warnings and accurate extreme weather forecasts.
“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,” EUMETSAT Director-General Phil Evans told the media.
The first PUMA station was installed in 2004. The new installations, starting with Nairobi, aim to upgrade this system and include training for local meteorologists. Next, a station will be set up in Cotonou, Benin, to enhance knowledge sharing at the upcoming EUMETSAT User Forum in Africa on October 6-7.