PGN Intervenes To Help Supply Oxygen For COVID-19 Patients

PT Samator, Kendal, a gas manufacturer that supplies oxygen for medical purposes in Central Java and Yogyakarta. (photo: ANTARA/HO-PLN)

JAKARTA - The government continues to increase the supply of oxygen for medical needs. This effort is also assisted by a number of SOEs. For example, PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk as Pertamina's gas subholding is committed to assisting the government in handling the COVID-19 pandemic by providing medical oxygen assistance and oxygen storage tubes.

PGN Secretary Rachmat Hutama in his statement in Jakarta, Sunday, explained that he is trying to mobilize his capacity to help increase the supply of medical oxygen.

“The supply of oxygen in hospitals is decreasing, while the need is urgently needed at this time. Hopefully the assistance from the gas subholding can help provide medical oxygen supplies," said Rachmat.

PGN through Pertamina Gas handed over oxygen and canisters to Central Java and Yogyakarta.

In Central Java, a total of 14.8 tons of oxygen was delivered at Loekmono Hadi Hospital, Dr. R. Soedjati Soemodiardjo, RAA Soewondo Hospital, and Dr Soetrasno Hospital.

Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, a total of 15.1 tons of oxygen was delivered to PAU Hardjolukito Hospital, Panti Rapih Hospital, PKU Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Bantul Hospital, PKU Bantul Hospital, and PKU Gamping Hospital.

The delivery of medical oxygen assistance collaborated with a number of stakeholders, such as the Samator Group through PT Aneka Gas Industri Kendal and PT Samator & Industri Yogyakarta to distribute aid to hospitals.

As for gas supply and transportation, PT Etkom Inti Energi collaborates with the Ministry of Health and the Central Java Oxygen Task Force for supporting data and distribution policies.

Furthermore, Pertagas Niaga converted six units of trucking idle liquefied natural gas for two months for transportation and distribution of oxygen to various hospitals in Java.

In collaboration with the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and Samator, PT Gagas handed over oxygen storage cylinders to the Kramat Jati Regional Hospital in East Jakarta.

The oxygen storage cylinders provided were four cylinders with each cylinder capacity of 175 liters.

Rachmat Hutama revealed that at the request of Holding Pertamina, oxygen assistance was given due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the operation east region, which includes the provinces of DKI Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java.

The condition of the operation east region in Java Island has an average bed occupancy ratio of isolation and the National ICU reaching 73 percent for DKI Jakarta, West Java, and Central Java reaching more than 90 percent.

"This condition has resulted in the need for oxygen supply for hospitals in all provinces on the island of Java to increase rapidly," said Rachmat.

Based on data from the General Directorate of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Textile Industries at the Ministry of Industry, the current demand for medical oxygen is 800 tons per day, an increase of 69.3 percent compared to normal conditions.

Rachmat hopes that the medical oxygen assistance is also a tangible manifestation of Pertamina's Energizing You spirit and mutual cooperation as part of Oil and Gas Holdings in dealing with the increase in COVID-19 cases.