Governor Pramono Authorises Cloud Seeding in Jakarta as El Niño Intensifies

DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has declared his readiness to permit Weather Modification Operations (OMC) in the capital. The step is a response to the 2026 dry season, which has begun to have a significant impact, marked by the absence of rain for almost three weeks.

“If it is indeed necessary, I will permit weather modification. Because for the past two to three weeks there has been no rain at all,” Pramono said in Jakarta on Thursday (30/7).

Pramono explained that the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, through the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), will adjust its weather engineering strategy. Whereas this technology is normally used to deflect rain away from land in order to prevent flooding, this time the objective is the opposite.

“We will decide to have the Regional Disaster Management Agency carry out weather engineering in Jakarta. Because until now what we have been doing is pushing the rain out to sea. This time it is to create rain in Jakarta,” he affirmed.

The need for weather modification aligns with warnings from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The BMKG reported that the 2026 El Nino phenomenon is active and is predicted to potentially reach a very strong level.

The El Nino conditions are expected to trigger a far drier and longer dry season across most of Indonesia. This raises the risk of extreme drought that could affect various strategic sectors in Jakarta and its surroundings.

The government has emphasised the importance of strengthening mitigation measures and national preparedness. These efforts are focused not only on handling drought, but also on preparing for potential wet hydrometeorological disasters predicted to occur towards the end of the year.

With the Governor’s permission granted, the DKI Jakarta BPBD is expected to coordinate promptly with the relevant agencies to execute the OMC in order to maintain water availability and reduce the air pollution that typically rises during a long dry season.