Indonesia disperses 8 tons of salt in Jambi cloud-seeding efforts

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported intensive weather modification operations to contain wildfires in Jambi, involving the dispersal of 8,000 kilograms of sodium chloride (NaCl) salt into the atmosphere using helicopters.

Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Berton Panjaitan, said in Jakarta on Friday that cloud seeding was conducted through eight sorties from August 26 to Sept 2, totaling 15 hours and 32 minutes of helicopter flights.

Panjaitan explained the operations aimed to release NaCl into clouds to boost precipitation and accelerate wildfire suppression, as fires had scorched more than 1,879 hectares, mostly flammable, hard-to-reach peatland, across Jambi by Thursday (Sept 3).

Following the observations, Panjaitan added BNPB identified 182 hotspots and 20 fires in several parts of the province.

He further noted fires broke out across about 47.5 hectares on Thursday, with 37 hectares extinguished through ground operations and water-bombing missions.

“Weather remains a hurdle in measures against forest and land fires,” Panjaitan said, acknowledging weather modification operations had achieved limited success due to unfavorable cloud formations.

The official cited a Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) report projecting that such atmospheric conditions would persist until next Thursday (Sept 10).

Against that backdrop, he assured the public that the government would intensify ground suppression efforts, including water spraying, patrols, and firebreak construction, to ensure continued containment despite adverse weather.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni earlier announced the government’s plan to maximise weather modification throughout September to complement ground and water-bombing operations.

Previously, he stated the government aimed to intensify cloud seeding to induce artificial rainfall over fire-affected areas amid the prolonged dry season, describing September as a decisive period in the national wildfire containment strategy.

The minister deemed weather modification crucial because BMKG has projected that natural rainfall may only return in early October.