Total Oil to build 400 houses in Aceh

JAKARTA: The local unit of French-based oil and gas firm Total Oil Indonesia will provide a total of 400 low-cost houses in Banda Aceh for the homeless survivors of the Dec. 26 tsunami.

The company will purchase the houses from state-owned housing developer Perumnas. The two signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday, witnessed by Minister of Public Housing Jusuf Ansyari Thayib.

Perumnas Herry A. Jasa Slawat said that the government had sufficient land to build up to 1,370 housing units in various areas in Aceh, which bore the brunt of the tsunami disaster. -- Antara