Weather Modification to Tackle Drought: 800 kg of Salt Seeded over IKN
A total of 800 kilograms of salt were successfully seeded in a Weather Modification Operation (OMC) carried out by the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) together with the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The activity, conducted on Saturday (22/8/2026), aims to tackle drought and began showing results on the first sortie.
On the first flight, based at Base Operation Lanud Dhomber Balikpapan, the seeding material was transported using a Cassa NC-212 aircraft from Air Squadron 4 at Lanud Abdulrachman Saleh. Salt was dispersed into several cloud points deemed to have rain potential around the IKN area in East Kalimantan.
The pilot of the Cassa NC-212, First Lieutenant Edwin Aldrin, explained that seeding was not carried out on only one cluster of clouds. The team dispersed the seeding material at several points to maximise the chance of rain forming evenly.
“For the first sortie, we seeded 800 kilograms of salt at several points. Not only at one cloud cluster, but also at several points about 10 to 20 miles from IKN,” Edwin said after the operation.
According to Edwin, the team found significant cloud potential in the northern part of IKN, especially at altitudes of around 8,000 to 9,000 feet. The OMC team will next conduct further observations to determine the seeding strategy for the following sortie.
The operation is scheduled to last six days, from 22 to 27 August 2026. The measure was taken following dry conditions that have begun to affect water availability in the IKN area and its surroundings.
Special Staff to the Head of OIKN for Construction Management and Strategy, Danis Hidayat Sumadilaga, added that the first flight was directed to an area around 20-30 miles north of IKN. The area is considered strategic because it includes river basins that support water availability for the core area.
“That includes river basins, such as the Sepaku Semoi Dam, the Tengin River, and the Sepaku River. 800 kilograms of salt have been dispersed. We have made the effort, and tomorrow, God willing, we will continue,” Danis said.
Danis stressed that the main objective of the OMC is not merely to bring rain, but to increase water reserves. The rain that falls is expected to fill retention basins, ponds and other water sources in the IKN area.
In addition to tackling drought, the effort is expected to reduce the risk of forest and land fires. At present, OIKN is also continuing to pursue management of water source connectivity, including interconnection between the Sepaku Semoi Dam and the Sepaku intake to maintain water volume balance.
Regarding the possibility of applying this OMC model in other areas of Kalimantan, Danis said his team is still focused on monitoring the results of the ongoing operation. “The main thing is that we try this effort first,” he concluded.