The Philippines is poised to supply oxygen to Indonesia which is facing a shortage due to the surge in cases of the new coronavirus disease 201 (COVID-19)
At the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday, Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) continues to encourage the industry to double its capacity in preparation for a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Lopez added the DTI is in talks to two possible oxygen manufacturers that can supply Indonesia, with an assurance the industry has enough to provide for the country.
Lopez said the country has 30 percent excess capacity, after the DTI four months ago encouraged manufacturers to beef up production in preparation for the possible requirement.
“We have always been in talks with the manufacturers and in the past, when we experienced a surge, we had sufficient supply,” Lopez said.
He did not elaborate but in a May interview, Lopez said the country has four local medical oxygen suppliers with a total capacity of 604 tons per day.
One company, Cryogenics Gases, reported to start operations in Butuan in the second half of the year.
One of the challenges of oxygen manufacturers is the sourcing of medical oxygen tanks, which are twice the thickness of a liquefied petroleum gas tank.
DTI encouraged the Department of Science and Technology in partnership with the private sector to develop such equipment and commercialize its production. Irma Isip
