In the face of the complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City, VAS Steel Nghi Son – VAS Group has made significant contributions. A free medical oxygen pumping station, called the “Oxygen ATM,” was recently inaugurated in District 7, expected to provide oxygen for 3,000 to 4,000 COVID-19 patients daily.
On August 29, 2021, the Nghi Son Steel Joint Stock Company – a subsidiary of VAS Group – partnered with the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, and PHGLock Vietnam to launch the oxygen pumping station at the Tan Thuan Steel Factory, a member of VAS Group.
The oxygen produced at the factory is certified by the Technical Center for Measurement and Quality Standards 3 under the General Department of Standards, Metrology, and Quality. The station serves the “Oxygen ATM” program and mobile healthcare stations across the city. The factory is estimated to produce 500 40-liter cylinders or 2,000 10-liter cylinders per day, enough to serve 3,000 to 4,000 COVID-19 patients daily.
VAS Group has sponsored nearly 2 billion VND/month worth of oxygen for the ATM Oxy program, which is distributed to hospitals and home care patients with COVID-19.
Mr. Nguyễn Khắc Sơn, Director of VAS Group’s Real Estate Division and General Director of Tan Thuan Steel Factory, shared that the oxygen production at the factory had been halted for three months due to the pandemic. However, when the fourth wave of the pandemic began, the company quickly shifted its production lines to meet medical oxygen standards to assist patients.
“We have seen many steel factories in other countries converting their oxygen production for medical use during emergencies. We reached out to the Ho Chi Minh City Health Department initially, but due to the strict social distancing and a shortage of manpower and cylinder supply, it was challenging,” said Mr. Sơn.
Thanks to the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association's Oxygen ATM program and the support of volunteer teams and businesses, the collaboration allowed the operation of oxygen stations 24/7, providing vital support to COVID-19 patients.
According to Mr. Đặng Hồng Anh, Chairman of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces were overwhelmed, and oxygen supplies were running low. The inauguration of the oxygen pumping station in District 7 carries significant meaning, serving as a model for converting oxygen facilities in steel factories into medical oxygen stations for COVID-19 response.
Founded in 1998, VAS is one of the largest steel producers in Vietnam, with a total capacity of 7 million tons per year. VAS Steel products are exported to numerous countries worldwide, including Japan, China, Taiwan, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and Laos. Recently, in August 2021, Nghi Son Steel Joint Stock Company – a member of VAS Group – successfully exported a shipment of steel coils to Japan, becoming the second Vietnamese company to enter this challenging market.
For more information about the event, please refer to the detailed article here.
Contact Information for VAS Steel’s Distribution Partner
Nhật Tiến Trading Co., Ltd – Professional Steel Distributor
Address: 145, 351 Street, Nam Sơn, An Dương, Hai Phong
Hotline: 0914.690.086
Email: nhattienjsc@gmail.com
