Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-run electricity company PT PLN succeeded in producing 99.9 percent pure medical oxygen to assist hospitals and those in need of oxygen supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

"PLN has utilized every possibility to produce pure medical oxygen from the oxygen that was initially released into the air at PLN's plant cooling system," PLN's Primary Director, Zulkifli Zaini, stated during the launch event of PLN Care's oxygen production on Thursday.

Zaini remarked that the oxygen produced by PT Pembangkitan Jawa Bali (PJB), PLN's subsidiary, met the medical criteria and had secured the Health Ministry's certification.

Medical oxygen is supplied by the Jakarta-based Muara Karang Electric Steam Power Plant (PLTGU). Around 900 cubic meters of oxygen per month is produced by PLTGU, managed by PJB.

He asserted that PLN remains committed to boosting the production of pure medical oxygen by two tons per day, which will be managed sustainably through PLN Group's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.

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Zaini is optimistic that medical oxygen would be utilized by hospitals to handle COVID-19 patients in need of oxygen.

Meanwhile, at an event, State-owned Enterprises Ministry Erick Thohir lauded PLN's achievement in producing pure medical oxygen for the purpose of handling COVID-19 pandemic.

"PLN has made a breakthrough from disposed oxygen, which is then processed five times in stages, before finally producing pure medical oxygen approved by the Health Ministry," Thohir affirmed.

Thohir also emphasized that Indonesians should be proud of the fact that the nation is able to handle the COVID-19 pandemic through innovations and collaborations from various parties.

"Through breakthrough in innovations and collaboration with various ministries, we need to work together to tackle this pandemic. We need to ensure that we are present to serve the Indonesian people," he affirmed.

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Translator: Adimas P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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