By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 11: The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) announced that the Sarawak government, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), and related agencies, have implemented a two-day cloud seeding operation over major dam catchment areas in Sarawak starting today.
According to a statement, the operation will focus on the Batang Ai Dam in Lubok Antu, as well as the Bakun and Murum dams in Belaga, with the RMAF Kuching Air Base serving as the operations and flight coordination centre.
“The cloud seeding exercise is intended as a weather intervention measure to increase rainfall potential in key dam catchment areas, thereby helping to stabilise water levels crucial for hydroelectric power generation, raw water supply, and the sustainability of Sarawak’s water resources,” said SDMC chairman, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
The Deputy Premier elaborated that among the main objectives of the operation are to increase rainfall distribution in targeted areas, support water-level stability at strategic dams, reduce the risk of raw water shortages, and strengthen mitigation efforts against dry weather conditions and the effects of El Niño and La Niña.
The operation will involve aircraft flights at altitudes of approximately 5,000 to 9,000 feet in cloud systems with rain potential, with hygroscopic materials such as industrial-grade salt dispersed into suitable cloud systems.
It added that weather radar monitoring and atmospheric analysis will be carried out continuously before, during, and after the operation to ensure its effectiveness and safety.
Uggah said the operation reflects the Sarawak government’s continued commitment to ensuring the security and sustainability of water resources in the State, particularly in supporting energy generation, water supply, and the well-being of the people of Sarawak.
He said the Sarawak government would continue strengthening preparedness and mitigation measures in facing increasingly unpredictable weather changes, adding that the cloud seeding operation represents a proactive approach implemented through strategic cooperation among various agencies for the benefit of the people and the development of Sarawak.
The statement noted that cloud seeding operations are typically carried out based on specific needs and technical assessments, such as during haze conditions to increase rainfall and improve air quality, or when water levels at major dams and reservoirs fall to levels that may affect water supply and energy generation.
The operation cannot be conducted arbitrarily, as it depends on meteorological studies, atmospheric conditions, and the presence of suitable cloud systems to ensure effectiveness and safety.
The Sarawak government also reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to strengthening sustainable water resource management and enhancing the State’s preparedness in facing extreme weather challenges through technological approaches and strategic multi-agency cooperation. — DayakDaily
