BIG Confident in Sufficient Supply of Medical Oxygen for Field Hospitals Amid New Wave of COVID-19

BIG is confident in the sufficient supply of medical oxygen, meeting the domestic demand. According to the new wave of COVID-19, the oxygen demand is expected to rise by 20% or from the normal demand of 300-350 tons per day to 400 tons per day. BIG is going to operate a new air separation plant to increase the oxygen production up to 1,150 tons per day.

Mr. Piyabut Charuphen – Managing Director of Bangkok Industrial Gas Company Limited or BIG, Thailand’s largest oxygen manufacturer, revealed that due the COVID-19 situation resulted in the growing number of patients in many countries including Thailand where the new wave of COVID-19 led to the increasing daily confirmed cases. Many sectors were concerned about the sufficient supply of medical oxygen. BIG, therefore, assures of an adequate and long-term supply of oxygen for Thailand’s public healthcare system. Currently, BIG has a production capacity of oxygen at 1,000 tons per day while the normal demand is at 300-350 tons per day. However, in the situation where the number of patients is rising, the demand increases by 20% or 400 tons per day.

“The new wave of COVID-19 in Thailand at present affects every sector. The number of new patients receiving treatment at hospitals is rising. Medical oxygen is the key to cure patients with a lung infection and in a critical state. BIG has a plan to support this growing demand. We assure of our sufficient supply of medical oxygen for hospitals all over Thailand including field hospitals for critical patients in any case,” Mr. Piyabut said.

BIG has managed the production capacity, transportation, and a reserve a storage tanks of liquid oxygen Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, Rayong. The reserve tank can contain over 7,300 tons of liquid oxygen. Furthermore, BIG is going to operate a new air separation plant in this August 2021. Therefore, the oxygen production capacity will increase by 140 tons per day while the total capacity will reach almost 1,150 tons per day.

Apart from the limited production, a shortage of oxygen in many countries also results from transportation. Oxygen in a gaseous form can be transported in a limited volume unlike in a liquid form. In Thailand, Liquid oxygen will be transported and vaporized at hospitals. Liquid oxygen consumes less space and can be transported in a massive bulk or 800 times of gaseous oxygen. In case of urgency, BIG can adjust the air separation process to increase oxygen production by minimizing the production of nitrogen. Furthermore, industrial gas with the same purity standard can also be used to support the demand for medical treatment.

BIG would like to assure that the supply of medical oxygen is sufficient and meets the demand from hospitals all over Thailand including new field hospitals in any case.