Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono said Red and White Village Cooperatives can adopt production methods that mix coal waste with clay, improving the strength and durability of traditional clay roof tiles while reducing their weight.
“This material can be blended into clay-based roof tiles with a small proportion of residual coal waste,” Juliantono said at the Jogja Expo Center in Yogyakarta on Saturday.
“The result is tiles that are lighter, stronger and more resilient,” he added.
The technology aligns with President Prabowo’s proposal for a nationwide shift from zinc roofing to clay tiles, a policy initiative the government refers to as “gentengization,” or roof-tile transformation.
Juliantono said the president’s focus on roofing materials is tied closely to environmental concerns, particularly Indonesia’s persistent waste management challenges across many regions.
“In the near future, the government will push waste management so that waste is no longer dumped in landfills, but processed directly at waste treatment facilities,” he said, adding that coal byproducts could be repurposed as inputs for building materials.
Beyond environmental considerations, Juliantono said roof tiles also improve housing comfort and visual quality, especially in densely populated residential areas.
“When the president travels, he sees many houses with zinc roofs,” Juliantono said. “Zinc roofs absorb heat and are prone to rust. Clay roof tiles are cooler, more durable and better for long-term housing quality.”
He added that adopting new production technology would help lower manufacturing costs, making roof tiles more affordable for households and supporting local cooperative-based industries.
With improved efficiency and lower input costs, the government expects village cooperatives to scale up production and meet rising demand if the zinc-to-tile transition gains momentum.
Juliantono also emphasized that raw materials would not be a constraint, noting that clay is widely available across Indonesia.
“Clay exists in almost every region. That gives cooperatives a strong foundation to develop locally sourced, value-added products that support both the economy and the environment," he said.
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Translator: Luqman, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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