PSUs mount huge oxygen operations in the fight against Covid
ECONOMY & POLICY

PSUs mount huge oxygen operations in the fight against Covid

Public sector companies have ramped up operations to ensure a steady supply of oxygen for emergency medical use in the wake of the second wave of Covid-19.

Steel companies, engineering units, railways, PSUs have joined together to fill the oxygen gap in the country. Many PSUs have also arranged hospital beds and enhanced the capacities in their hospitals to assist in the treatment of Covid patients.

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), leading the charge, has increased the production of medical liquid oxygen from 500 million tonne (mt) in the second week of April to about 1,000 mt per day from its plants set up in Bhilai, Rourkela, Bokaro, Durgapur, and Burnpur.

SAIL has even loaded 950 mt of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) on 14 different Oxygen Express trains to supply to various parts of the county from these plants at Bokaro, Rourkela, and Durgapur. It will also add 2,500 extra beds with oxygen facilities near its plants throughout the country for the treatment of Covid patients.

Indian Railways till now has run 27 Oxygen Express trains which have 1,585 mt of LMO. An additional six trains are on their way to different destinations carrying 463 mt of oxygen. Engineering and manufacturing PSU BHEL is supplying oxygen in Bhopal and Haridwar, whereas, RINL, which is on the edge of privatisation has supplied 1,300 mt of medical oxygen.

GAIL is setting up pressure swing absorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plants in 10 different places and ICO is supplying oxygen to Haryana and Punjab. ICO has also converted the LNG tanks and containers into oxygen carriers and diverting new LNG tanks for the supply of liquid oxygen.

Oil PSUs are arranging for PSA medical oxygen generation plants in 93 different locations throughout India. Coal India has set up emergency utility equipment with more than 1,400 oxygen cylinders.

Other PSUs like Cochin, Shipyard, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN), NLC India Ltd, and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) are also taking steps to supply LMO and also expanding the hospital facilities.

Image Source


Also read: Steel plants in India supplied 4,076 mt liquid medical oxygen

Also read: Steel sector plays vital role in supplying medical oxygen to the country

Public sector companies have ramped up operations to ensure a steady supply of oxygen for emergency medical use in the wake of the second wave of Covid-19. Steel companies, engineering units, railways, PSUs have joined together to fill the oxygen gap in the country. Many PSUs have also arranged hospital beds and enhanced the capacities in their hospitals to assist in the treatment of Covid patients. Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), leading the charge, has increased the production of medical liquid oxygen from 500 million tonne (mt) in the second week of April to about 1,000 mt per day from its plants set up in Bhilai, Rourkela, Bokaro, Durgapur, and Burnpur. SAIL has even loaded 950 mt of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) on 14 different Oxygen Express trains to supply to various parts of the county from these plants at Bokaro, Rourkela, and Durgapur. It will also add 2,500 extra beds with oxygen facilities near its plants throughout the country for the treatment of Covid patients. Indian Railways till now has run 27 Oxygen Express trains which have 1,585 mt of LMO. An additional six trains are on their way to different destinations carrying 463 mt of oxygen. Engineering and manufacturing PSU BHEL is supplying oxygen in Bhopal and Haridwar, whereas, RINL, which is on the edge of privatisation has supplied 1,300 mt of medical oxygen. GAIL is setting up pressure swing absorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plants in 10 different places and ICO is supplying oxygen to Haryana and Punjab. ICO has also converted the LNG tanks and containers into oxygen carriers and diverting new LNG tanks for the supply of liquid oxygen. Oil PSUs are arranging for PSA medical oxygen generation plants in 93 different locations throughout India. Coal India has set up emergency utility equipment with more than 1,400 oxygen cylinders. Other PSUs like Cochin, Shipyard, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN), NLC India Ltd, and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) are also taking steps to supply LMO and also expanding the hospital facilities. Image Source Also read: Steel plants in India supplied 4,076 mt liquid medical oxygen Also read: Steel sector plays vital role in supplying medical oxygen to the country

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

What Industry Wants!

The construction industry is gearing up for Budget 2025 with high expectations. As one of India’s key economic drivers, the sector is eagerly anticipating reforms and policies to address pressing challenges such as high input costs, funding gaps, and sustainability demands. Industry leaders across real estate, infrastructure, construction materials, and logistics have shared their wishlists, urging the government to focus on GST rationalization, increased CAPEX, and green initiatives.This year’s budget presents an opportunity for the government to not only tackle existing bottlenecks but a..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Messe Stuttgart, Startup India Tie-Up to Boost Funding

The logistics market in India is poised for significant growth, with a projected revenue of $357.3 billion by 2030. Despite this huge potential, a recent McKinsey & Company report highlights the decline in logistics funding following the pandemic that remains a significant concern. After receiving unprecedented funding of $25.6 billion in 2021, venture capital investment in logistics startups fell sharply to $2.9 billion in 2023—a nearly 90 per cent decrease, marking the lowest since 2015. This pullback from investors is attributed to several factors, including high interest rates, a glo..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

JK Tyre Strengthens Road Safety Commitment

Reinforcing its unwavering commitment to road safety, JK Tyre & Industries, a leader in the tyre manufacturing industry, partnered with the Delhi Traffic Police to organise a comprehensive Road Safety Awareness Week. This initiative, held as part of National Road Safety Month (January 1–31, 2025) spearheaded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), aimed to foster responsible driving habits and reduce road accidents. Under the theme ‘Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha,’ the initiative commenced on January 16, 2025, at the Delhi Police Traffic Training Park, BKS. The program feat..

Hi There!

"Now get regular updates from CW Magazine on WhatsApp!

Join the CW WhatsApp channel for the latest news, industry events, expert insights, and project updates from the construction and infrastructure industry.

Click the link below to join"

+91 81086 03000