IGL Limited officially commissioned its new pressure swing absorption (PSA) oxygen plant at Ferry, St Catherine on Wednesday (March 16).

The project saw an investment of close to J$100 million to increase the on-island production capacity of medical-grade oxygen by over 40 per cent.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony Peter Graham, managing director of IGL, said that the new PSA plant complements the company’s air separation unit—which manufactures both liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen—built at a cost of US$10 million in 2018.

He noted that whilst, “IGL was already in import substitution mode in 2018, our recent experience [with] COVID-19, when medical oxygen was in very high demand worldwide and importation was very challenging and at times, completely non-existent, proved that we were on the right track. This expansion with the PSA plant positions us to be an exporter of medical-grade oxygen and a net earner of foreign exchange for Jamaica.”

Declaring that “IGL is in expansion mode”, Graham revealed that “IGL will be soon bringing into operation a carbon dioxide (CO2) plant which will take CO2 that would have normally gone into the atmosphere and use it to produce food-grade carbon dioxide.”

“This means that all of our large bottlers – Pepsi, Coca Cola, Wisynco – instead of importing CO2, will be able to purchase CO2 made at Ferry,” added the IGL managing director.

Already ISO 9001:2015 certified, IGL is working towards the global Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000) as well, Graham noted.

Welcoming guests at the commissioning of the PSA plant, IGL chairman Bevon Francis said that it was “an historic occasion as IGL is celebrating 60 years of service to Jamaica in the same year that Jamaica is celebrating its 60th anniversary of Independence.” 

“It had been six decades marked by growth alongside Jamaica with IGL earning a coveted reputation as the island’s leading distributor of LPG and primary manufacturer and distributor of industrial and medical gases,” continued Francis.

Noting that the company employs over 438 team members, Francis assured that “IGL has always been responsive to the needs of Jamaica present and future. We strive to provide products that impact lives, keeping our eyes on developments internationally and providing solutions to mitigate negative effects that may potentially harm our people.”

Minister of Industry and Commerce Aubyn Hill, had high praise for IGL.

The senator was the guest speaker at the commissioning ceremony representing Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Pointing to the challenges of accessing medical-grade oxygen during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Minister Hill said that “prior to IGL making oxygen locally, Jamaica relied solely on imports to supply the medical-grade oxygen we need.”

“We saw the full value of having the commodity available locally as the global supply diminished and many countries scrambled to fill the very heightened demand occasioned by the virus. Your responsiveness and leadership were noticed and appreciated by many Jamaicans,” noted Hill.

“I extend appreciation to you and your staff who ensured that this critical commodity was delivered to our hospitals across the island. We are aware that there were challenges with the supply chain, but with a firm commitment and with a strong sense of service, these were addressed in a timely manner. Your quick and careful action went a long way to help control Jamaica’s mortality rate and reduce the stress occasioned by the pandemic,” Hill declared further.

Daryl Vaz, Minister of Science and Technology, hailed the IGL expansion as one that “should be marked with celebration and a feat that should not be taken lightly especially, in the face of a pandemic, which continues to cause significant strain on resources of many organisations”.

Vaz said that “to be able to achieve what we are witnessing today speaks to sound vision and good leadership, as well as a deep commitment to Jamaica and its people”.

“IGL is to be lauded for its efforts. They are a true son of Jamaican soil” Vaz opined.

Also praising IGL for “strong commitment, foresight and service to Jamaica” was Anthony Hylton, Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives and Shadow Minister of Industry, Investment and Global Logistics.