Commissioning of New Oxygen Production Plant at Kabwe Central Hospital

● Plant will serve healthcare institutions in the Central Province and surrounding regions 

● This facility is the third plant to be completed and handed over in the last 8 months 

● The commissioning ceremony was presided by Hon. Dr. Elijah J. Muchima, Minister of Health

Kabwe, 16 June 2025 — The Government of the Republic of Zambia today celebrated another milestone in its ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare system with the official commissioning of a new medical oxygen production plant at Kabwe Central Hospital, in Central Province.

Presided over by Hon. Dr. Elijah J. Muchima, Minister of Health, the commissioning ceremony marked the successful completion of three of six oxygen production facilities being established across the country by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) with funding from The Global Fund, totalling USD 10.4 million.

The newly commissioned plant in Kabwe will serve healthcare institutions throughout Central Province and surrounding regions, providing a reliable and sustainable supply of medical oxygen essential for the treatment of respiratory and emergency medical conditions. This investment comes at a critical time as Zambia continues to scale up life-saving infrastructure in its public health system.

UNOPS led the procurement and construction of the plant, which uses Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology to extract medical-grade oxygen from ambient air. The project also includes full oxygen distribution systems —pipelines, manifolds— as well as a standby generator and a skip truck to facilitate efficient oxygen cylinder transport.

The Kabwe facility is the third plant to be completed and officially handed over, following successful inaugurations in:

● National Heart Hospital, Lusaka (November 2024) and in
● Kasama General Hospital, Northern Province (May 2025).

The plants at Chinsali General Hospital (Muchinga Province) and Kalindawalo General Hospital (Eastern Province) have been completed and are awaiting commissioning, while the plant at St Paul’s Mission Hospital in Nchelenge (Luapula Province) is nearing completion.
 

The Minister of Health, Hon Dr. Elijah J. Muchima, MP, stated:
“This plant breathes new life into Kabwe Central Hospital. It is a symbol of hope, a promise that every breath, every life, and every Zambian matters”.

UNOPS Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Rainer Frauenfeld, stated:
“The commissioning of the Kabwe Central Hospital oxygen plant marks another important step in delivering reliable, life-saving medical infrastructure across Zambia. With each new facility, we are reinforcing the foundation of a stronger, more resilient health system—one that can respond swiftly to emergencies and serve communities sustainably. We remain committed to working with the Government of Zambia and our partners to strengthen health infrastructure and ensure the necessary resources are in place to save lives”.

Together, these six oxygen production plants will enhance Zambia’s medical oxygen supply chain, strengthen hospital readiness, and contribute to a resilient, responsive healthcare system for years to come.
 

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Notes to the editors:

Press contact details:
Leticia Wanyagi, Communications - UNOPS East and Southern Africa Multi-Country Office in Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 110 935 012 | leticiaw@unops.org

About UNOPS
UNOPS mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We help the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, and deliver sustainable infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way. Read more: www.unops.org

About The Global Fund
The Global Fund is a leading international financing organization dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. By mobilizing resources and partnering with governments, civil society, and the private sector, the Global Fund works to accelerate progress toward ending these epidemics. Read more: www.theglobalfund.org