SKA Observatory statement - August 2025
29 August 2025
As part of our commitment to transparency and accountability, and to complement our public statement of 23 August 2025 (published under this Q&A), we are publishing below the responses provided by the SKAO to media enquiries. These responses reflect our position on the matters raised and offer additional context regarding our governance processes, financial management, and project delivery. We trust this will help clarify key issues and reaffirm confidence in the integrity of the organisation.
1. Whistleblower allegations and governance processes
Q: What action has the SKAO taken in response to the disclosure made under the Whistleblower Policy?
The SKAO is aware that one or more disclosures have been made under the Observatory’s Whistleblower Policy to the Chair of the SKAO Council. In line with our established governance processes, an independent external investigation has been initiated. The SKAO has been actively supporting this investigation.
[UPDATE: the lead investigator has confirmed that the investigation should be completed in the next few weeks]
Q: Have proper processes been followed regarding these claims?
Yes. The SKAO is proud to have a robust Whistleblower Policy in place, which ensures that allegations are treated seriously and investigated appropriately. This framework reflects our commitment to transparency, integrity, and accountability.
2. Financial management and investment oversight
Q: Was the SKAO Council made aware of investments in money market funds, including JP Morgan, Aviva, and CCLA?
Yes. In accordance with SKAO’s internal processes, the SKAO Leadership provides regular treasury reports to the SKAO Finance Committee —a delegated governance body of the Council comprising financial expert representatives from across the SKAO member states— which include full details of investment accounts, including money market funds held with JP Morgan, Aviva, and CCLA.
Q: How does the SKAO respond to claims suggesting up to £12 million was lost due to these investments?
No capital loss has been incurred in these investment holdings. Money market funds are inherently low-risk, highly liquid instruments and were selected for these characteristics. Any reduction in investment balances reflects withdrawals made to support SKAO’s normal operational needs, such as supplier payments and staff salaries.
Q: Has the SKAO investigated allegations that financial statements were manipulated to conceal losses, including through foreign exchange entries or use of contingency funds?
We reiterate that no capital losses have occurred. The SKAO adheres to recognised financial best practices. Our financial activities are subject to both rigorous internal reviews and independent external audits, which are reported to the Finance Committee and Council. No adverse audit findings of note have been reported.
3. Project scope, schedule, and financial impact
Q: Have there been any changes to the scope or schedule of SKA-Low or SKA-Mid due to financial pressures?
The scope and schedule of the SKA telescopes are continuously reviewed, as is standard for projects of this scale and complexity. Any recent schedule updates were driven by programmatic, not financial, reasons, and have been shared transparently with the Council and the scientific community at our recent science meeting in June.
4. Power supply and sustainability at SKA-Low
Q: Is the SKAO spending over $1M a year on diesel for SKA-Low, and why has no solar plant yet been built?
Temporary diesel generators are currently being used to support construction and commissioning activities at SKA-Low. This is a planned and transitional solution while the first phase of a permanent, radio-quiet power station is completed. That station will feature a significant proportion of renewable energy —most likely solar PV— as part of SKAO’s firm sustainability commitments. The diesel generators are expected to be in use between September 2025 and May 2026, with an anticipated diesel cost of approximately $1M over that period.
Q: How is power currently being provided to the central processing plant at SKA-Low?
Only around 1% of the planned antennas at SKA-Low are currently active. Power is temporarily supplied via diesel while a staged procurement process is underway. This will culminate in a long-term agreement with an Independent Power Provider to design, build, and operate a hybrid power station with a high penetration of solar PV and substantial battery storage. A similar approach is being followed at SKA-Mid in South Africa.
Q: Has a tender been awarded for the second phase of the SKA-Low Central Power Station, and when will the solar component be operational?
A tender has not yet been awarded. A call for expressions of interest has been issued, and responses are due shortly. A full tender process will follow. The solar-based permanent plant is expected to be operational by late 2028. Phase 1 of the power station will operate from May 2026 and will later be integrated with a larger Phase 2 to form the final hybrid system.
5. European Commission grant – IN-SKA Project
Q: Why did the European Commission pay only half of a €5 million Horizon 2020 grant, and why were some costs deemed ineligible?
This relates to the “IN-SKA” project, which was led by the SKA Organisation —a UK-registered company and the predecessor to the SKAO. The project successfully delivered design work for infrastructure and power systems for the SKA telescopes in Australia and South Africa, forming the basis for ongoing construction (more info here).
The project was fully and transparently overseen by the various stakeholders and through the Members of the SKA Organisation, including its Finance Committee and Board of Directors. As is common in complex projects, some costs were later deemed ineligible, but these were modest and the matter was amicably resolved with the European Commission, in full transparency and with the approval of the organisation’s Finance Committee and Board.
23 August 2025
The SKAO has been aware for some time of a range of allegations raised by an employee, including disclosures made under the Observatory’s Whistleblower Policy, some of which are the subject of an article today in The Guardian Australia. The SKAO has been dealing with these issues respectfully, ethically, and in accordance with its policies and procedures. At all times the SKAO has prioritised the privacy, confidentiality, and the welfare of those concerned.
The SKAO is assisting an independent, external investigation into the whistleblower allegations.
We are confident that the SKAO is a well-governed project that follows recognised best practice, and its financial activities and reports are subject to rigorous internal audits and independent external audits. The Observatory stands by its robust policies and procedures that guide the activities of the Observatory and of its staff and ensure the highest standards of behaviour.
The SKA project is a massive undertaking to deliver the world’s two largest and most complex radio telescopes, and the scope, schedule and all financial matters are under constant review. The SKAO Council, which includes representatives of all the countries involved in the SKAO, has oversight of all such issues.