The Río Elqui Surveillance Board together with the Paso Agua Negra Development and Integration Corporation (Corpan) will carry out a pilot rain stimulation plan, known as “cloud bombing”, for three months in the Region of Coquimbo.

According to El Mercurio, the plan seeks to address the drought in the area. Based on data from the Center for Advanced Studies of Arid Zones (Ceaza), the water situation is critical: In the Province of Elqui, the Puclaro reservoir is at 4% of its capacity, while La Laguna stores 9%. In the Province of Limarí, the Recoleta area has 3% of its capacity; La Paloma, 1%, and Cogotí dried up.

With this context, the director of International Affairs of Corpan, Carlos Ruiz, explained the method that they will apply in the region: “Consider bringing a pressurized twin-engine plane, equipped and certified from Mexico, to carry out the stimulation with the patented Mexican Rainmate reagent.”

“It is expected to be able to have it next winter, when the plane will operate during June, July and August,” said Ruiz, who also clarified that in Mexico the method has been executed for three years in more than 10 states, with increases between 23 and 64 percent – above what was predicted.