5.5 billion rubles was allocated from the budget for the purchase of 177 new oxygen stations. They will produce more than 350 tons of oxygen daily for 50 regions of Russia, Rossiyskaya Gazeta writes.
Gradually, cryogenic installations of a new generation will be installed to replace all the old oxygen stations; the former have 10% higher capacity. Federal funding will help enterprises to compensate 20% of the cost. The Government of the Russian Federation has allocated 475 million rubles for the long-term implementation of this project.
A total of more than 55 Russian enterprises produce oxygen for hospitals today, supplying 2,700 tons per day. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the capacities of the main producers are operating with 100% load. A part of the supply of oxygen to hospitals is provided from emergency reserves.
At the same time, since July 2021, manufacturers have increased the total volume of medical oxygen supplies to hospitals by 40%, from 1,220 tons per day to 1,720 tons per day. Manufacturers of building materials, pipe and shipbuilding industries have reduced oxygen consumption to an acceptable level during the rise in the disease incidence. This made it possible to create additional oxygen reserves for emergency supplies to medical institutions. Metallurgical and chemical enterprises have also reduced their oxygen consumption at certain stages of the production process. At the same time, the production of oxygen has been maximized, reaching the limit of the available capacity. In addition, oxygen is supplied by defense enterprises (the Ministry of Defense, Roscosmos and Rosatom) from their reserves.
Mikhail Murashko, the head of the Ministry of Health of Russia, earlier said that during the peak incidence of coronavirus infection the consumption of medical oxygen in hospitals was 2,925 tons per day.