Government prepares weather modification operations and water management to face El Niño

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) is preparing Weather Modification Operations (OMC) and water management in peatlands to confront the El Niño phenomenon, which is predicted to cause extreme dry conditions with very low rainfall across Indonesia. “OMC has evolved since 2023 and today has become a protocol for handling the extension of rainfall and the provision of water to irrigate lower areas. Then, from a field perspective, we will carry out permanent canal blocking measures, known as canal blocking,” said Minister of Environment and Forestry (LH) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq in Jakarta on Wednesday. Minister Hanif explained that Indonesia has an extensive canal network of nearly 600,000 km. Therefore, certain potential areas will have their canals blocked using various methods and technologies to maintain water resilience, enabling supply to regions to avoid drought or land and forest fires (karhutla). Minister Hanif elaborated that the prolonged dry season due to El Niño has the potential to impact Indonesia as it occurs during the dry season from April to November 2026, resulting in the lowest rainfall conditions in Indonesia. He added that on average, monthly rainfall will be less than 100 mm, and there is a potential for groundwater and peat to dry out. “Thus, there are three key conditions that must be addressed. First, prolonged dry season. Second, the lowest rainfall in 30 years, and third, land drought,” stated Minister of Environment and Forestry Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.