Mrauk-U oxygen plant helps supply other townships in need

By DMG 24 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom
24 July 2021, Mrauk-U 

A newly built oxygen plant in Mrauk-U Township has refilled about 200 oxygen cylinders since it started production on Wednesday night, according to Nang Yeik Garunar, a community-based charity group helping to supply oxygen in the town. 

“We started production less than three days ago. The plant has so far refilled around 200 cylinders, both 15-litre and 40-litre cylinders,” said the chairman of Nang Yeik Garunar, U Maung Win Shwe. 

Mrauk-U has become the first town in Arakan State to produce oxygen independently. The plant will also supply oxygen for Covid-19 patients from other townships, with people from Sittwe, Taungup, Manaung, Thandwe and Kyauktaw contacting the plant on Saturday. 

“We will refill their cylinders. It will help them if they can get oxygen from here. I heard Thandwe is short of oxygen,” U Maung Win Shwe told DMG. 

On Saturday, the plant refilled 20 cylinders for Sittwe, four for Kyauktaw, 32 for Mrauk-U, three for Pauktaw and five for Minbya. 

A resident of Kyauktaw Township, which sits adjacent to Mrauk-U, said the oxygen plant has eased the worries of locals. 

“We feel safe as oxygen is now available in Mrauk-U, which is close to our township. I heard they would also supply oxygen to nearby townships, and places that urgently need oxygen. Compared with other towns, we are closer to Mrauk-U, and we can therefore seek help anytime.” 

According to the junta-controlled Ministry of Health and Sports, 2,018 Covid-19 cases had been reported in Arakan State, with 91 deaths, as of July 23. A total of 1,079 patients were still receiving treatment at hospitals.