Yogyakarta, Feb. 7 -- Indonesia's cooperatives minister said village-based producers could use new technology to make lighter and stronger roof tiles, backing President Prabowo Subianto's push to replace zinc roofing as part of a broader environmental and housing upgrade.

Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono said Red and White Village Cooperatives can adopt production methods that mix coal waste with clay, improving the strength and durability of traditional clay roof tiles while reducing their weight.

"This material can be blended into clay-based roof tiles with a small proportion of residual coal waste," Juliantono said at the Jogja Expo Center in Yogyakarta on Saturday.

"The result is tiles that are lighter, stronger and more resi...