Indonesia: BPPT uses artificial rain to overcome forest fires

Antara 2 Jul 19;

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT) uses weather modification technology, better known as artificial rain, to overcome drought and forest and land fires (karhutla) in the Riau region. "We are using weather modification technology for karhutla in Riau," said Head of the BPPT Center for Weather Modification Technology Tri Handoko Seto when contacted by ANTARA here Monday.

The BPPT had also received requests from regions such as South Sumatra to use the same technology to stimulate acceleration of rain formation in an effort to prevent and overcome land and forest fires, Seto said.

In addition, the Jakarta administration submitted a request to utilize the technology to overcome air pollution, according to him.

BPPT spends around Rp50 billion annually to use the technology, he noted, adding that when demand increases, BPPT can spend Rp70 billion to Rp80 billion from technology users to make weather modifications.

In addition to using the technology to stimulate the acceleration of the process of rain, BPPT also helps efforts to wet peatlands to reduce the risk of fire.

Reporter: Martha Herinawati/Eliswan Azly
Editor: Bambang Purwanto