BUTON Island, Southeast Sulawesi, is the largest producer of asphalt in Indonesia. Its asphalt reserves are estimated to last for a century. As such it would be profitable to exploit the reserves commercially. The national demand for asphalt, according to Minister of Public Works, Djoko Kirmanto, reaches 1.2 million tons, of which 800,000 tons are produced by state enterprises and 400,000 tons are imported. The imports will be gradually reduced t