We will continue to optimize the role of SOEs in assisting the handling of this pandemic, so that the aid can be distributed quickly to the community
Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir has vouched to strive persistently to maximize the role of SOEs in facilitating the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

"We will continue to optimize the role of SOEs in assisting the handling of this pandemic, so that the aid can be distributed quickly to the community," Thohir remarked as quoted from a caption of his recent video uploaded on his official Instagram account @erickthohir in Jakarta, Wednesday.

In the video, the minister was seen greeting officers from Jakarta and Temanggung District, Central Java that were going to bring oxygen cylinders from Krakatau Steel in order to meet the oxygen requirements in their respective areas.

Thohir affirmed that the pressing need for oxygen for handling COVID-19 patients had led the SOEs to continue to mobilize existing resources to fulfill requirements. This effort was aimed at placating the burden on hospitals and saving more human lives.

After PT Pertamina (Persero), Thohir reviewed the process of distributing subsidiary oxygen at the industrial gas plant PT Krakatau Steel (Persero).

Krakatau Steel has provided additional oxygen filling on a daily basis for up to 800 to one thousand oxygen cylinders. The figure is estimated to reach 250 tons of oxygen per month.

Free filling of oxygen cylinders was solely applicable for hospitals, healthcare units, or local governments, though barring individuals.

"Various hospitals, health facilities, and government agencies in the provinces of Banten, DKI Jakarta, West Java, and Central Java have received oxygen filling aid from Krakatau Steel," the SOEs minister remarked.

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Translator: Uyu Septiyati Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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