Indonesia Uses Dry Ice to Combat Toxic Smog

Indonesia is testing an unusual method to combat toxic smog from forest fires – spraying dry ice. Coordinating Minister for Security Dudung Abdurachman announced that on Thursday, dry ice will be dropped on the province of South Sumatra. The trial is being conducted under direct orders from the president: authorities will first assess the results, and if the method works, it may be applied in other regions.

Since January, nearly 900,000 hectares have burned across Indonesia – the worst fire season in over a decade. It has been exacerbated by the 'Godzilla' El Niño and the practice of burning land for palm oil. Millions of Indonesians have suffered from thick smoke for months; last week, a class action lawsuit was filed accusing the government of 'gross negligence.' Tens of thousands of people have sought help for respiratory illnesses.

The smoke has spread to Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. East Timor will close schools for three days starting Thursday. Singapore has introduced subsidies for smog-related treatment – for the first time since 2015 – and is distributing N95 masks. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have entered the list of the world's most polluted cities.

On Thursday, a Cessna aircraft is reportedly set to spray 1.5 tons of dry ice over Palembang. Authorities hope to alleviate the smoke and improve air quality and visibility. According to Bloomberg, the method was first used in the 1940s to stimulate ice formation in clouds.

Experts warn that dry ice will provide only local and limited relief. 'Weather systems move from east to west. If you clear the smoke in a city under this, new smoke will constantly blow in. It will not be simple and by no means a permanent solution,' says Rick McRae from the University of New South Wales.

In Central Kalimantan, the ISPU pollution index has exceeded 1,200 – four times above the hazardous level of 300. President Prabowo Subianto has ordered intensified efforts to combat the fires, but the worst ones are burning in peatlands, can smolder underground for weeks, and are difficult to extinguish.