Inp.polri.go.id - Penajam. The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General Suharyanto, said that weather modification operations over the past 10 days in the new capital Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN) have significantly supported construction activities, helping meet project deadlines.

“We want to ensure the weather modification operation by BNPB, ongoing for 10 days, runs smoothly,” he said during a site visit to the BNPB headquarters construction area in IKN on Saturday (3/8/2024).

From 15 July to 2 August 2024, the Weather Modification Team conducted 114 flights using two aircraft, spraying 111 tons of sodium chloride (NaCl) and 8 tons of calcium oxide (CaO) to induce rain and redistribute rainfall around the IKN construction sites. By Saturday evening, the number of flights reached 119, as reported by antaranews.com.

The weather has been favorable, neither too rainy nor too hot, which has helped in achieving construction targets. The modification efforts are crucial for ongoing road paving near the IKN development, with the work advancing towards a key stage ahead of Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day.

To support ongoing projects, BNPB has coordinated with IKN authorities on readiness for potential meteorological disasters.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)