Chinese Government provides RMB 10 million grant — via ETCA — for Fixed Seismic Observation Network Project

On September 7, 2004 and October 5, 2004, the Chinese Government and the Government of Algeria signed letters of exchange, which committed RMB 10 million of grant funding for the Fixed Seismic Observation Network Project.

The grant proceeds were drawn from an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) that the two governments signed on February 3, 2004.

The project was funded by China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and implemented by the China Earthquake Administration.

The improved observation network consists of 2 ultra-wideband seismic stations, 8 broadband seismic stations, a network center in Algeria, and a mobile seismic observation station consisting of a set of short-period mobile digital seismographs.

China will also send technical personnel to Algeria to conduct site surveys, guide equipment installation, and provide necessary on-site technical training. This project was implemented between November 20, 2006 to January 5, 2007.

In December 2006, after the seismic observation network underwent trial operations, it successfully monitored and recorded several major earthquakes around the world, including one that occurred in the Taiwan Strait on December 26, 2006.