Minister of Home Affairs states clay tile usage in West Java at only 87 per cent

Purwakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, stated that the use of clay tiles in the West Java region has only reached 87 per cent, even though West Java is known as a central hub for clay tile production.

“The percentage of houses using tiled roofs is 57 per cent in Indonesia,” said Tito during the dispatch of 125 trucks transporting clay tiles produced by local MSMEs in Purwakarta Regency, West Java, on Friday.

He conveyed that President Prabowo Subianto has launched the ‘Gentengisasi’ (Tiling) Programme due to concerns regarding the high number of houses still using zinc roofing. Such roofing types make houses hot and reduce aesthetic appeal.

According to him, the percentage of houses using tiled roofs stands at 57 per cent across Indonesia.

It was also noted that almost 37 per cent of houses in Indonesia use zinc, while the remainder use asbestos, natural materials such as wood and bamboo, or organic materials like palm fibre and straw.

Meanwhile, the highest percentage of clay tile usage is found in Yogyakarta, reaching 97 per cent, followed by East Java at 95 per cent.

Tito stated that clay tiles are among the best choices for house roofing. His cited advantages include being quiet during rain, providing a cool indoor temperature, being aesthetically pleasing, and being suitable for residential living.

Regarding the ‘Gentengisasi’ programme, the Minister of Housing and Residential Areas, Maruarar Sirait, mentioned that 2.5 million clay tiles have already been ordered from clay tile production centres in West Java.

These orders were made to meet the demand for building materials within housing development and home renovation programmes.

Of these, 500,000 tiles were ordered from Plered, Purwakarta, while 2 million tiles were ordered from Jatiwangi, Majalengka.