Belgium's export-credit agency is backing $272 million in low-interest loans to satellite fleet operator Eutelsat to finance the construction and launch of a satellite aboard an Ariane rocket, Paris-based Eutelsat said. In a May 7 financial statement, Eutelsat said Belgium's Office National du Ducroire (ONDD) agreed to back an 11.5-year loan facility with an interest rate of 2.07 percent "to finance the construction of a satellite." A separate ONDD facility, also for 11.5 years but valued at 87 million euros, features an interest rate of 2.23 percent and will be used "to finance a launcher." Eutelsat said May 10 that the launcher in question is an Ariane 5 heavy-lift vehicle. Belgium's Thales Alenia Space Etca, Sabca and TechSpace Aero S.A. all build parts for Ariane 5, but their total contribution, and their corresponding ownership of the Arianespace launch consortium, is only around 3 percent.
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