Jakarta, Aug. 13 -- The Ministry of Public Works has pledged to reduce Indonesia's reliance on imported asphalt for toll roads by maximizing the use of supplies from Buton Island, Southeast Sulawesi, through the Red and White Asphalt program.

"To that end, I hope toll road business entities support and participate in the policy promoting the use of Buton asphalt while maintaining technical and academic feasibility. All stakeholders must align their steps," Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo said in Jakarta on Thursday.

The ministry has been striving to boost the use of Buton materials in asphalt blends for toll road construction to build national self-reliance and improve efficiency in infrastructure development.

To support the initia...