Jokowi Denies Hiring Rain Shaman for G20 Gala Dinner

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi said hosting the G20 Summit in Bali during the rainy season was quite challenging, especially since the weather forecast said that rain was expected at Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) park.

“I have decided that the gala dinner is at GWK. The lighting is prepared well. And the BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency) forecasted that it will rain that day,” said the state head when meeting journalists at Apurva Kempinski Hotel, Bali, on Thursday, November 17, 2022.

When the gala dinner was held on Tuesday, the GWK areas saw sunny weather. Many thoughts that it was because the committee hired a rain shaman.

“No, we are very scientific. Every time there is a cloud that raises the potential for rain, the TMC team immediately tackled it,” he said, explaining the weather modification process.

TMC is a weather modification technology conducted by the BMKG. Dwikorita Karnawati, the agency’s head, explained that TMC was a collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency or BRIN, and the Indonesian Air Force with the support of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing and the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment.

Dwikorita also said that the TMC team started the work from November 10 to November 16 at 16:00 local time using a total of 29 tons of salt sown through 28 flight sorties. “The goal is for the clouds to be dispelled immediately, sent down as rain before entering the event area,” she explained.

The weather in the GWK area during the G20 gala dinner was really fair with cool air temperatures and no rain. Heads of state seemed to enjoy the meal and were dazzled by spectacular art performances.

ANTARA

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