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Indonesia tests dry ice to fight toxic haze as fires ravage region

Government trials new method in South Sumatra after cloud seeding and water bombing fall short

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Indonesia is testing a new method to battle its worst fire season in over a decade: dropping dry ice onto fires in South Sumatra in an attempt to trigger rain and clear the toxic haze that has drawn complaints from neighbouring countries.

As fires continue to burn across Indonesia, releasing toxic smoke that has angered regional neighbours, the government has turned to an unusual tactic: dry ice. Coordinating security minister Dudung Abdurachman said the trial would take place on Thursday in South Sumatra province, according to state news agency Antara.

"This trial of dry ice dispersal is being conducted under the president's direct instruction to help tackle the haze in South Sumatra," Abdurachman said. "We will first observe the results, and if effective, there is a possibility that this method could be implemented in other regions."

The dry ice approach is the latest in a series of attempts to fight the fires, which have included cloud seeding, water bombing, and deploying army personnel. Nearly 900,000 hectares have burned across Indonesia since January, marking the worst fire season in more than a decade. The blazes have been exacerbated by this year's powerful El Nino and the continued practice of slash-and-burn land clearing, often for palm oil plantations.

The success of the dry ice trial remains uncertain, and officials have not provided details on how the method would work or what results would be considered effective. The government has not announced a timeline for evaluating the trial's impact.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The haze from Indonesian fires has repeatedly caused health emergencies and diplomatic tensions with neighbours like Malaysia and Singapore, which suffer from the transboundary smoke.
  • The trial represents a potential new tool in Indonesia's firefighting arsenal, but its effectiveness is unproven; if it fails, the region could face another extended period of hazardous air quality.
  • The fires also contribute significantly to global carbon emissions, making this a climate issue with worldwide implications.

Background

Indonesia regularly experiences severe fire seasons linked to slash-and-burn agriculture and El Nino conditions, which dry out peatlands and make them highly flammable. Previous efforts have included cloud seeding, in which chemicals are sprayed into clouds to encourage rain, and water bombing from aircraft. Dry ice dispersal is a lesser-known technique intended to stimulate rainfall by cooling air and promoting condensation. The government has not explained how this trial will differ from earlier cloud seeding attempts, nor what criteria will define success.

Key Perspectives

Indonesian government: Officials hope the dry ice method will provide a breakthrough in suppressing fires and haze, potentially expanding it to other regions if successful. Regional neighbours: Countries affected by the haze have traditionally pressed Indonesia to take stronger action against slash-and-burn practices and to control fires at their source, rather than reacting after they spread. Critics and environmental groups: Many have argued that technological fixes do not address the underlying drivers of the fires, particularly the economic incentives for land clearing; they are likely to view trial methods sceptically without stricter enforcement and land-use reform.

What to Watch

  • Whether the dry ice trial produces measurable rainfall or fire suppression in South Sumatra over the coming days.
  • Any official announcement on the trial's results and whether the method is expanded to other provinces.
  • Air quality readings in neighbouring countries, which will signal whether the haze continues to pose a regional threat.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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