Access to medical oxygen has become one of the most urgent yet under-recognized challenges in East Africa’s healthcare systems. Hospitals in Kenya and the wider region continue to face severe shortages as small-scale oxygen plants struggle with inefficiency and substandard purity levels, leaving patients vulnerable during routine surgeries, respiratory emergencies, and critical care. Hewatele’s $10.5 million investment to establish an industrial-scale liquid oxygen facility represents a decisive step toward solving this crisis. By leveraging advanced Air Separation Unit (ASU) technology and strong backing from regional and international investors, the initiative aims not only to deliver reliable, high-purity oxygen but also to strengthen the resilience of East Africa’s healthcare infrastructure for years to come..
A Growing Crisis in Medical Oxygen
Medical oxygen remains one of the most overlooked yet essential components of healthcare delivery in East Africa. In Kenya, more than 70 percent of existing Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants are either non-functional or producing oxygen below the World Health Organization’s minimum standard of 90 percent purity. This failure has had a direct impact on hospitals, undermining the treatment of respiratory illnesses, limiting safe surgeries, and constraining emergency care.
Shifting from PSA to Industrial-Scale Production
Hewatele is responding by transitioning from small-scale PSA technology to a more industrial production model. The upcoming liquid oxygen facility will employ Air Separation Unit (ASU) technology, enabling oxygen production at a purity level of 99.6 percent—well above international medical requirements. By adopting this approach, the company seeks to guarantee a consistent and high-quality supply for hospitals and clinics across East Africa.
Support from Transform Health Fund
The $10.5 million financing is structured as a senior secured bridge facility, designed to accelerate the construction and rollout of the new plant. It builds on Hewatele’s backing from other prominent investors, including the Soros Economic Development Fund, Finnfund, and the UBS Optimus Foundation. Together, these stakeholders represent a coalition of organizations committed to building resilience in African health systems.
A Broader Push for Healthcare Resilience
For AfricInvest and its partners, the investment is not simply about expanding one company’s footprint but about reinforcing healthcare infrastructure across East Africa. By funding local production of medical oxygen, they are helping reduce dependence on imports while ensuring life-saving treatments remain accessible. As Noorin Mawani and Faisal Jiwa, Co-Leads of THF, noted, oxygen is a cornerstone of modern medicine, from neonatal care to emergency surgeries.
Hewatele’s $10.5 million funding round represents more than a business expansion—it is an investment in regional healthcare resilience. By building a state-of-the-art liquid oxygen facility, the company is setting new standards for oxygen production while directly tackling one of East Africa’s deadliest bottlenecks. If successful, this effort could transform patient care across the region and establish a model for how strategic financing can solve critical healthcare challenges.