Self-sufficiency in the provision of Indonesian construction materials

Abstract

In line with the plan of the Indonesian government to build and develop the infrastructure as well as building a million houses for middle low incomers, the provision of local construction material is strictly prerequisite. The purpose of building up the infrastructure (i.e. roads, dams, power plants, drainages and ports) in addition to mass houses is providing the job opportunity and increasing the public services demand. The use of sustainable construction materials in Indonesian construction business is still considerably low, whereas the use of local material is rare. Business purposes with economical benefit considerations remain to be the major issue in the local construction firm. Java as the most developed region in Indonesia customarily supplying woods for construction purposes from the tropical rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, even though the use of these material are more durable but in the other hand its energy consuming and lack environment awareness. Furthermore its construction sand materials had been largely taken from the beach area, which brings about a number of serious environmental degradation. Likewise the construction material for Borneo, Sumatra and Eastern Indonesia most of the advanced production for material supplies such as cement, pre-fabricate concrete, steel and finishing material are mostly coming from Java region. This article aims to generate the knowledge vis-a-vis the possibility of self sufficiency and sustaining its construction material durability within local construction firm throughout the country.