We have received a commitment from the Industry Ministry to convert up to 80 percent of industrial oxygen for medical needs
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Industry Ministry will convert up to 80 percent of industrial oxygen to meet the national need for 575 thousand tons of oxygen amid a spike in COVID-19 cases, a government spokesperson has said.

"We have received a commitment from the Industry Ministry to convert up to 80 percent of industrial oxygen for medical needs," spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccinations at the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said at a daily online press conference on emergency restrictions on community activities (PPKM), from here on Wednesday.

Based on a report from the ministry on Tuesday, there has been an increase in oxygen demand in the provinces of DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Banten, and Bali, she said.

The daily oxygen demand in the seven areas has reached a total of 2,032 units, comprising 714 units for intensive care rooms and 1,318 units for isolation rooms, she added.

The strategy pursued by the government to meet these daily needs is accelerating oxygen supply and seeking distribution to areas reporting a spike in COVID-19 cases, she continued.

Meanwhile, the government has continued to receive oxygen assistance from companies as well as foreign aid. It has said the aid will be distributed in areas with a fairly high number of infections.

The assistance received by the government includes the donation of 11 thousand oxygen concentrators (OC) by the Temasek Foundation and 15 Indonesian and Singaporean companies -- Bakti Barito Foundation, Cikarang Listrindo, Dharma Satya Nusantara, East Ventures, Indies Capital Partners, Kino Indonesia, Sinar Mas, Tanoto Foundation, TBS Energi Utama, Triputra Group, UID Foundation, Wahana Artha, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, DBS Bank, and Singtel.

Of the 11 thousand oxygen concentrators collected by Temasek Foundation and the Indonesian and Singaporean companies for Indonesia, 1,500 units sent from Shanghai arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Related news: Oxygen for industrial use to be diverted for COVID patients
Related news: Indonesia's SOEs distribute 27 tank containers of oxygen to hospitals
Related news: Govt boosting medical oxygen production, ensuring drug availability

Translator: Andi Firdaus, Katriana
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021