Begin typing your search above and press return to search.
Oxygen cylinder transport, that's the biggest problem
By: Tupaki Desk | 26 April 2021 11:34 AM GMT
Oxygen cylinders â thatâs the buzz word now. Shortage of oxygen cylinders has become a huge issue in the fight against Covidâs deadly second wave. This has been hogging the limelight and is the headlines. But unfortunately, most media reports are only helping to raise fears not to find solutions.
The real issue is only 20 per cent of the Covid cases being reported in the country are critical and the fatality rate this time is as low as 0.02 per cent. Also, there is no shortage of oxygen cylinders in the country. India is producing sufficient quantities of oxygen cylinders for the medical use. As of now, the country is using less than 6000 metric tonnes of medical oxygen, but the production capacity is more than a lakh metric tonnes. The real problem, experts say, lies in the transporting. The state governments have not increased their transport capacities. 80 per cent of the oxygen produced is being used for industrial use and this is being supplied through pipelines. Nearly 15 per cent is being stored in liquid oxygen form. The remaining five percent is being stored in cylinders for medical use. Unfortunately India does not have enough cylinders and transport facilities.
The Central government has provided green corridors for oxygen supply and has pressed into service air force planes and cargo planes for the purpose of medical oxygen supply. Consider this. Refilling of an oxygen cylinder costs just Rs 300, while making one oxygen tanker costs around Rs 45 lakh. Hence most companies have fewer tankers. This is now turning out to be a huge problem, sources say. The issue would be addressed within a few days, say government sources.
The real issue is only 20 per cent of the Covid cases being reported in the country are critical and the fatality rate this time is as low as 0.02 per cent. Also, there is no shortage of oxygen cylinders in the country. India is producing sufficient quantities of oxygen cylinders for the medical use. As of now, the country is using less than 6000 metric tonnes of medical oxygen, but the production capacity is more than a lakh metric tonnes. The real problem, experts say, lies in the transporting. The state governments have not increased their transport capacities. 80 per cent of the oxygen produced is being used for industrial use and this is being supplied through pipelines. Nearly 15 per cent is being stored in liquid oxygen form. The remaining five percent is being stored in cylinders for medical use. Unfortunately India does not have enough cylinders and transport facilities.
The Central government has provided green corridors for oxygen supply and has pressed into service air force planes and cargo planes for the purpose of medical oxygen supply. Consider this. Refilling of an oxygen cylinder costs just Rs 300, while making one oxygen tanker costs around Rs 45 lakh. Hence most companies have fewer tankers. This is now turning out to be a huge problem, sources say. The issue would be addressed within a few days, say government sources.
