The new facility in Kinshasa aims to supply critical medical, industrial, and aeronautical gases across the country.

Highlights:

● First national plant for medical, industrial, and aeronautical gas production
● Nearly 75% of Congolese hospitals lacked oxygen access before this project
● $3.6M investment, including $1.6M support from the Fonds de promotion de l’industrie (FPI)

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has inaugurated its first industrial gas production facility, Oxygaz RDC, marking a crucial step toward resolving the country’s longstanding oxygen supply crisis. Opened on July 19, 2025, by Minister of Industry and SME-SMI Development Louis Watum Kabamba, the plant is located in Limete, Kinshasa, and operated by Congolese conglomerate Mike Food & Services (MFS) Group.

With a total investment of $3.6 million—including $2 million in private Congolese capital and $1.6 million in public support from the Fonds de promotion de l’industrie (FPI)—the facility is now the leading domestic producer of oxygen and nitrogen cylinders for use in medical, pharmaceutical, industrial, and aeronautical sectors.

According to Mike Lundadila Koketua, President of MFS Group, the project addresses a dire need, as nearly 75% of hospitals in the DRC have never had access to oxygen, and only 15% currently receive it on a continuous basis. The plant currently provides 50 direct and 100 indirect jobs, with future expansion planned across other provinces.

Founded in 2018, Groupe MFS is a Congolese company active in several sectors: agrifood, real estate, logistics, general trade, industry, and mining.

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho