Malaysia launched a three day cloud seeding operation in Sarawak on Thursday as authorities sought to replenish water supplies at major hydroelectric dams and ease haze affecting the eastern state.
The operation targeted the Batang Ai, Bakun and Murum hydroelectric dams, with additional flights planned over other critical catchment areas across Sarawak, The Star reported.
Sarawak Deputy Prime Minister Douglas Uggah Embas said the operation aims to raise reservoir levels ahead of potentially hotter and drier conditions expected in October.
The cloud seeding comes as Indonesia continues to experience an unusually prolonged dry season, with El Niño contributing to conditions favorable for wildfires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Sarawak, located on the island of Borneo, shares a land border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan provinces, leaving the Malaysian state vulnerable to haze from fires across the border.
Nearly 95,000 hectares of land were burned in Indonesia in July alone, while the Forestry Ministry estimated that about 202,000 hectares had burned nationwide by the end of the month.
Malaysia has also sought Indonesia’s approval to conduct cloud seeding using Indonesian airspace as authorities respond to haze linked to the fires.
Cloud seeding involves dispersing salt based particles into suitable clouds to encourage rainfall. The resulting rain can help replenish reservoirs and reduce airborne pollutants by washing particles from the atmosphere.
The operation is part of Malaysia’s efforts to address both water supply concerns and deteriorating air conditions as dry weather persists across parts of the region.
Photo courtesy of UA News
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