Then ventilators, now oxygen: India Inc at forefront of Covid-19 fight

As the oxygen demand grows multi-fold on the back of the sudden resurgence of Covid-19 infections, India is set to import 50,000 metric tonnes of medical oxygen. On its part, India Inc has started diverting its industrial-grade oxygen for the needy States, writes Shravan Nune.

Mumbai: As India is hit by a much severe Covid-19 infections wave than what it experienced last year, corporate India has rolled up its sleeves to throw struggling hospitals a lifeline with the supply of much needed oxygen.

According to reports, both the public sector undertakings and private sector enterprises have started diverting their industrial-grade oxygen streams for medical purposes in view of the sudden spike in the number of Covid-19 infections and the consequent high demand for oxygen in hospitals.

“Maharashtra has been able to lift surplus medical oxygen on daily basis from Steel plants like JSW in Dolvi (Maharashtra), SAIL in Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) and from JSW in Bellary (Karnataka),” the Central Government said in a press release on Thursday after reviewing the oxygen supplies across the country.

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Similarly, Madhya Pradesh could supplement its oxygen supply from the Bhilai Steel plant in Chhattisgarh, the release added.

Private sector major Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has started supplying oxygen from Jamnagar plant in Gujarat to Maharashtra.

Taking to Twitter, Maharashtra Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde announced that the Mukesh Ambani-led company will be supplying nearly 100 metric tonnes to the State.

Citing sources, news agency Bloomberg reported that the RIL has been diverting some oxygen streams meant for its petroleum coke gasification units after making it suitable for medical use.

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On being asked by ETV Bharat, an official of the RIL confirmed the supplies. However, he asked not to be identified due to internal policy.

These gestures by the corporate majors come at a time when the Centre decided to import 50,000 metric tonnes of oxygen.

“In view of increasing demand for medical oxygen, EG2 (Empowered Group 2) decided to float a tender for import of 50,000 MT of medical oxygen. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been directed to finalise the tender for the same and also explore possible sources for import identified by the missions of the Ministry of External Affairs,” announced the government on Thursday.

During the first wave of Covid-19 last year

While India was struggling to grapple with the first of its kind global pandemic in recent history, automobile companies came forward to help the government in coping with the growing demand for ventilators.

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For instance, home-grown Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) and Mahindra and Mahindra realigned their assembly lines and reskilled their employees for this purpose, the UK-based MG Motor tied up with Vadodara-based AB industries to make around 1,300 ventilators.