Indonesia Introduces Rubber Asphalt Innovation at Dubai Expo

TheIndonesia.id - Indonesia's Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) introduced the innovation of rubber asphalt at Dubai Expo 2020. This invention has been applied to many roads in Indonesia.

Rubber asphalt has proven to be very useful. Rubber can extend the period of the road quality. Besides, it increases asphalt resistance.

"The use of rubber asphalt has been applied to improve the quality of several roads in Indonesia," said PUPR Minister, Basuki Hadimuljono, in a written statement received by Antara on Friday, November 11, 2021.

Some of Indonesian's roads using rubber asphalt are Ciawi to Sukabumi road, Karawang to Cikampek road, Ajibarang-Banyumas-Klampok-Banjarnegara road, and the Muara Beliti-Musi-Rawas-Tebing Tinggi-Lahat Regency road.

Indonesia is the second-largest rubber producer in the world after Thailand. About 85 percent of rubber production is exported in the form of raw rubber.

Recently, the demand for raw rubber exports was low. It has led to an oversupply in the country, which made the price drop.

To overcome this, the Ministry of PUPR discovered the rubber used for the infrastructure sector. One innovation is processing the rubber as additional material for asphalt production (rubber asphalt) to increase domestic rubber consumption.

Rubber asphalt has a better density level. Besides, it does not easily leave wheel tracks when the asphalt is wet. It also has higher durability than ordinary asphalt.

This week, the Indonesian Pavilion introduced the invention of rubber asphalt at the 2020 Dubai Expo. The Ministry of PUPR will target potential investors who consider the potential of rubber in the international market.

In addition, the Indonesian Pavilion also showed digital content related to the PUPR Ministry's support for the 5 Indonesian Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP), the development of eastern Indonesia, and the development of accessibility between regions.

The Five Indonesian Priority Tourist Destinations (DPSP) is part of the "10 New Bali" program launched by the government. The destinations included are Lake Toba, Borobudur Temple, Lombok-Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang.