India's Steel Plants Increase Oxygen Production; 137 Tankers Deliver 2,067 MT Of LMO

Stepping up efforts to meet the nation's requirement of liquid medical oxygen (LMO), steel companies from both the public and private sectors have produced the bulk of LMO across the country.

While four cryogenic tankers have been airlifted by Indian Air Force from Perth, Australia, yesterday (5 May), 34 oxygen expresses are completing their journey, delivering more than 2,067 metric tonnes (MT) of LMO in 137 tankers.

The total liquid medical oxygen production by the steel plants was 3,680.30 MT, while the total LMO supply was 4076.65 MT on Tuesday.

Steel Authority of India, one of the largest domestic steel producers, has been enhancing its capabilities to supply medical grade oxygen in the country.

The daily delivery of LMO from its integrated steel plants situated at Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Rourkela (Odisha), Bokaro (Jharkhand), Durgapur and Burnpur (West Bengal) has been increased from a level of about 500 MT in the second week of April to more than 1,100 MT per day currently.

The SAIL has so far supplied over 50,000 MT of LMO. In the month of April, 2021, SAIL delivered more than 17,500 MT LMO to 15 states including the states in which the plants are located. Among the major private steel makers, Tata Steel provided 1071.32 MT, JSW 1329.93 MT, AMNS 195 MT, JSPL 50.92 MT, and JSL 75.88 MT.

SAIL plants have also received tankers, which have been airlifted and after loading have moved to their destinations by road and rail. The railways, air force, steel plants and oxygen plants are coordinating the efforts of transporting the tankers.

Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had held a series of meetings last week with chiefs of steel companies of both public and private sectors. He had called for doing everything possible to enhance supply of medical oxygen from steel plants and also for building jumbo-sized Covid-care facilities with oxygenated-beds to augment the healthcare infra.

Overcoming all hurdles and finding new solutions, Indian Railways is continuing its journey of bringing relief by delivering LMO to various states across the country.

The railways has delivered 174 MT of oxygen to Maharashtra, 641 MT to UP, 190 MT to MP, 229 MT to Haryana and 123 MT to Telangana while Delhi has received 707 MT.

It is Indian Railways’ endeavour to deliver as much LMO as possible in the shortest time possible to the requesting states.