Romania gave 5 million euros on a plane that can bring the rain

The director of the unit for the fight against hail falls (UCCG) Moldova II Vrancea, Ionuț Lucian Lazăr, says that in Romania there is a plane specially designed for the sowing of clouds to stimulate precipitation, but it is not used, because the services should be officially requested by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The aircraft, purchased with about five million euros in the United States by a Romanian company under the Madr umbrella, is fully equipped and authorized.

‘We have all the opinions and authorizations, we are licensed as a air operator. The plane is prepared for cloud seeding flights, but the activity is carried out only at the request of the national anti -uril and increase of precipitation, structure within the Ministry of Agriculture. So far, nothing has been asked for, so we cannot act, « said Ionuț Lazăr.

The aircraft has been purchased to reduce the dependence of Romania from other countries, after in the past experimental programs have been held to stimulate precipitation with partners from Bulgaria and Greece.

‘So far I have worked with airplanes from other countries, which came only in the off -season. The interventions with our needs were difficult to synchronize. So we decided to buy my own plane, modified and equipped especially for this type of missions, considered high -risk flights, « explained the specialist.

The technology allows the 15-20% increase in the amount of rainfall by a cloud by 15-20%, and the effect is almost instant.

‘If we have the right cloud, we can act immediately. But we need to be requested. We are ready to intervene in any region of the country, we have the necessary capacity, team and equipment, « says Ionuț Lazăr.

In addition to this plane, the company has also developed projects for the location of automatic land generators in mountain areas, to stimulate snow in the cold season. With this project, proposed for Vrancea County, it is tried to obtain financing through European programs.

‘If we succeed in setting up generators throughout the entire mountain range in Romania, we can contribute significantly to the restoration of water reserves, through rains and controlled snow. It would be beneficial for both agriculture and tourism. We are proud because the terrestrial generators are made by our company, with our own specialists, and for this technology we have a patent application at OSIM ‘, said Lazăr.

Despite the proven potential, Romania still does not have an active program to stimulate precipitation through aviation technology, although it is available to the authorities.

‘We have the solution, but it must be used. The ball is in the field of the ministry ‘, concluded Ionuț Lazăr.

Meanwhile, the season to combat hail falls should start on April 15, a system that in Vrancea county protects over 10,000 hectares of vines, orchards and vegetable crops.