NRES Ministry Wish List: Drone Cloud Seeding, Rare Earth Mapping Proposed For Budget 2027

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Ministry has submitted key wish list items for the upcoming Budget 2027, including proposals for drone-operated cloud seeding and comprehensive mapping of rare earth deposits.

Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the shift towards drone technology for cloud seeding was necessary to handle frequent haze and dry spells caused by climate change, reducing reliance on costly military assets.

“Right now, we don’t have our own assets that are specifically used for cloud seeding because it used to be only a seasonal thing, but because of climate change, because of global warming, because of haze, we are looking at cloud seeding becoming quite regular and the cost is quite high to keep on using TUDM (Royal Malaysian Air Force) assets,” he said.

He was speaking at a Concorde Club dialogue session titled “Building A Resilient Malaysia: Environment, Climate And Our Future” moderated by Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai at Wisma Bernama here today.

Also present was Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.

Arthur said traditional cloud seeding operation currently costs upwards of RM100,000 per operation due to rising fuel costs, with a success rate ranging between 50 and 70 per cent, depending on wind direction and atmospheric humidity.

On rare earth deposit mapping, he said there was a need for federal allocation to execute accurate mapping of rare earth elements (REE) to attract foreign direct investment and facilitate technology transfer negotiations.

“Our rare earth deposits are very promising, but in order for us to move forward and to draw in the right foreign investors, we need to be more clear about where our rare earth deposits are,” he said.

Additionally, he said the ministry was seeking higher allocations for Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT) to provide direct cash grants to state governments for localised conservation, wildlife corridor creation and reforestation initiatives.

Meanwhile, Arthur said Malaysia had yet to experience the worst of the ongoing haze and dry weather, with prolonged dry conditions and elevated temperatures expected to persist until mid-2027 due to the Super El Nino phenomenon.

He said the upcoming weather patterns could represent the hottest and driest period recorded, leading to higher incidental economic costs.

Arthur said the government has initiated a multi-ministry whole-of-government approach to compute the broader financial impact of the extreme weather, including higher energy costs due to more frequent usage of air conditioning indoors, as well as agricultural costs.

He added that agricultural losses, in particular, would involve significant yield reduction alongside additional intervention costs required to sustain farm operations throughout the extended dry spell.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to table Budget 2027 in Parliament on Friday.

-- BERNAMA