Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian government planned to allocate 90 percent of oxygen production for medical needs as the COVID-19 cases in the country has been surging over 20,000 daily in the past weeks.

“We have talked with the industry minister so that 90 percent of industrial oxygen is converted for medical use, so around 575,000 tons per year of domestic oxygen production will be allocated for medical purposes,” Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Monday (July 5).

All of these oxygens will be maximized for medical needs in seven provinces in Java and Bali which are facing a surge in the COVID-19 cases after a long Eid al-Fitr holiday in May this year and with the entry of the more contagious Delta variant.

The seven provinces are Banten, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, and Bali.

The Health Ministry’s data currently show the total oxygen needs for intensive care and isolation of COVID-19 patients reach 1,928 tons per day.

Meanwhile, the national oxygen production capacity is up to 866,000 tons per year, with a utility rate of 640,000 tons.

During this time, 75 percent of the oxygen production was allocated for industries such as those of steel, nickel, and smelter, while only 25 percent for medical needs.

In addition, the government will also import more ergonomic oxygen tubes measuring six cubic meters and one cubic meter for hospital needs.

Reporting by Indonesia Window