By Antriana Panteli
Several companies in Cyprus are urging the government to move forward on cloud-seeding initiatives aimed at boosting rainfall as the island confronts a deepening water shortage.
Eastmed Weather Modification Ltd. has submitted three pilot-program proposals to the Ministry of Agriculture but has yet to receive a response, company director Heraklis Panteli told Kathimerini. “The state machinery is operating at a very slow pace,” he said.
Panteli said the company first filed a proposal in June 2024. The ministry rejected it in January 2025, prompting Eastmed to consult atmospheric scientist Daniel Rosenfeld, who helped design small-scale pilot programs to gather the data needed for broader implementation.
Earlier this week, Cyprus Meteorology Department Director Philippos Tymvios said the ministry is still examining the possibility of a pilot cloud-seeding program. He stressed that no decision has been made on operational deployment, citing the need for evidence that the method is effective under Cyprus’ specific climatic and geographic conditions.
The three proposals
1. Pilot Scientific Cloud-Seeding Program:
A research-focused initiative to evaluate the method’s scientific validity, operational feasibility, environmental safety, and cost-benefit profile. It would concentrate on regions with the highest number of seedable clouds and major reservoirs, producing data needed to assess long-term nationwide use.
2. Full-Scale Rainfall Enhancement Program:
A fully operational program that, under suitable weather conditions, aims to significantly increase rainfall and snowfall through cloud-seeding missions across the island. It would also build the technical expertise and datasets required for multi-year application.
3. Hybrid Pilot Scientific and Operational Program:
A combined approach that assesses scientific effectiveness while simultaneously attempting to maximize rainfall and snowfall increases. The program incorporates both research and full-scale seeding operations.
Panteli said the hybrid model is the most suitable for Cyprus because it pairs large-scale operations with scientific evaluation. “It would reassure the Ministry of Agriculture by demonstrating that this technology can produce positive results in Cyprus’ unique climate,” he said.
Calls for faster action
Panteli warned that delays carry real consequences. “We’ve reached a point where the dams have emptied, and the Water Development Department is sending letters to farmers advising them not to plant seasonal crops,” he said. The situation, he added, could trigger a chain reaction affecting the wider public.
