Key steps taken to increase availability, streamline distribution of oxygen: Govt
The authorities on Monday listed out steps to increase oxygen provide within the nation because it sought to counter the narrative of lack of medical oxygen main to well being disaster and loss of life of many COVID-19 sufferers. Key steps have been taken to increase the provision, streamline the distribution and strengthen the oxygen storage infrastructure within the nation amid rising Covid-19 instances, the Commerce Ministry mentioned in a press release.
“The steps undertaken focused on the entire oxygen supply chain. These include efforts for improving oxygen production, enhancing tanker availability to optimize logistics, improving oxygen storage at the last mile, and easing norms of procurement,” the ministry mentioned.
The nationwide capital, like most components of the nation, is reeling beneath scarcity of medical oxygen as COVID sufferers preserve thronging the hospitals.
The courts final week had lashed out at each the Centre and the Delhi authorities whereas ordering ample provide of oxygen to save lives of critical COVID-19 sufferers. An AAP MLA on Sunday had claimed that Delhi obtained simply 499 metric tonnes of oxygen on May 8 towards the typical provide of 700 MT ordered by the Supreme Court.
The commerce ministry acknowledged that oxygen manufacturing has elevated from 5,700 MT per day in August final yr to 9,446 MT per day in May this yr.
The manufacturing capability has additionally elevated from 6,817 MT per day to 7,314 MT per day, and capability utilization has gone up from 84 per cent to 129 per cent throughout this era, the ministry famous.
It mentioned that metal firms from each the private and non-private sectors have stepped up efforts to meet the nation’s requirement of medical oxygen and on May 4, the whole liquid medical oxygen (LMO) manufacturing by the metal crops was 3,680.3 MT.
“The total LMO supply per day was up from an average 1,500-1,700 MT in mid-April to 3,131.84 MT on April 25, and further to 4,076.65 MT on May 4,” it mentioned.
It knowledgeable that LMO sale has additionally elevated from about 1,300 MT/day in March 1 to 8,920 MT/day on May 6.
During the primary wave of COVID-19, the utmost sale of 3,095 MT/day of LMO was seen on September 29, 2020. The sale grew greater than five-fold from 1,559 MT/day on March 31 this yr to over 8,000 MT mark by May 3, 2021.
On the oxygen allocation course of, it mentioned that it has constantly advanced to streamline the distribution within the nation. It added that the allocation to states/UTs is dynamic in nature, primarily based on necessities as per Health Ministry norms, and session with states/UTs, producers and different stakeholders.
“There is a mismatch between producing and consuming states, and equity among states to be maintained. Moreover, one-third of the production is concentrated in East India, while 60% of demand for oxygen is in North and South India, resulting in transportation challenges,” it mentioned. It added that mapping of supply and vacation spot of oxygen has been accomplished to optimize transportation plans in session with states/UTs, producers and different stakeholders.
Regarding oxygen manufacturing capability enhancement plans, the ministry mentioned that extra 70 MT/day manufacturing is predicted in Karnataka.
“1,594 PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) plants are being established to improve oxygen supply near demand clusters…74 of the 162 PSA plants have been installed and the rest will be installed by June 2021. 1,051 additional PSA plants sanctioned under the PM Cares Fund in March and April 2021 will be commissioned in the next three months in phases,” it added.
On imports, it mentioned 50,000 MT of liquid oxygen is being imported from abroad, with orders and supply schedule for five,800 MT has been finalized; three quotations have been obtained for 3,500 MT, which was authorized on April 21 with supply over three months.
In addition, 2,285 MT of LMO is being imported from the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and France.
Further procurement of one lakh oxygen concentrators has been sanctioned beneath PM Cares Fund on April 27 and the supply has been obtained for two,500 items.
“There has been an excellent response to the tender floated by ONGC. Offers for 50,000 concentrators have been obtained from home producers. Awards for 9,800 items have been finalized with a supply schedule of 4,800 items on May 15 and 5,000 items on May 27.
“In addition, 55 bidders have expressed interest to supply 70,000 – 75,000 units of concentrators. Orders are being finalized and will be placed based on promised delivery schedule,” it added.
The ministry mentioned that in March 2020, the capability of tankers was 12,480 MT and their quantity was 1,040. Now, the capability of tankers has gone up to 23,056 MT and their quantity has elevated to 1,681, which incorporates 408 transformed tankers and 101 imported tankers.
“248 oxygen tankers are being imported, with 101 tankers imported so far and another 58 tankers to be imported in next 10 days; In addition, 100 tankers are being manufactured domestically,” it mentioned.
Till the night of May 9, 293 MT has been offloaded in Maharashtra by railways; 1,230 MT in Uttar Pradesh; 271 MT in Madhya Pradesh; 555 MT in Haryana; 123 MT in Telangana; 40 MT in Rajasthan; and 1,679 MT in Delhi.
An online and app-based Oxygen Digital Tracking System (ODTS) has been launched to allow actual time monitoring of oxygen motion within the nation.
About 2,500 extra drivers are being skilled to drive oxygen tankers by the National Skill Development Corporation and Logistics Sector Skill Council.
It added that the quantity of cryogenic tanks for storing oxygen at hospitals has elevated to 901 from 609 since March 2020 and availability of medical oxygen cylinders has elevated from 4.35 lakh in March 2020 to 11.19 lakh in May 21.
“Additional, 3.35 lakh cylinders are being procured in line with estimated increase in demand. Orders have been placed for additional 1,27,000 cylinders on April 21. DRDO is procuring 10,00,000 NRM valves under PM Cares Fund – this device will reduce wastage of oxygen by shutting out the supply during exhalation,” it mentioned.Â
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