Prabowo Subianto plans mass production of cassava flour firefighting technology

President Prabowo Subianto is planning to pilot the mass production of a firefighting technology based on cassava flour to combat forest and land fires (karhutla). During a coordination meeting in Palembang, South Sumatra, on August 24, 2026, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo reported on an innovation that uses cassava flour to separate oxygen from carbon dioxide when sprayed on flames, potentially preventing or extinguishing fires in their early stages.

President Prabowo, who referred to the method as ‘ubi bombing’ in comparison to traditional water bombing, has requested that the technology be developed on a larger scale. He has directed relevant agencies to submit production cost proposals and suggested that the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) investigate the development and procurement of chemical-based or substance-based extinguishing agents to find more effective alternatives to water alone.