The public sector oil and gas giants will double the number of oxygen tankers and increase by 10-fold the ISO containers by the end of this month to step up their infrastructure for supplying oxygen to hospitals that are treating Covid-19 patients in the country. These companies are also ramping up oxygen imports from the Gulf countries to meet the surge in demand.

According to an official press statement, currently , there are 12 tankers and 20 ISO containers with the capacity of 650 metric tonnes (MT)  that are being used to supply oxygen. Indian Oil, for instance, is sending oxygen from its Panipat refinery to  adjoining states and Delhi.

The figure is going to improve substantially, with the numbers likely to go up to 26 tankers and 117 ISO containers by the end of this month, with the capacity of 2314 MT.95 ISO Containers are being purchased, with a capacity of 1940 metric tonnes. Orders have already been placed for 30 ISO Containers, with the capacity of 650 MT while negotiations are underway for the remaining containers.

Orders have also been placed for ten thousand cylinders of 40/ 50 litre capacity  and 300 cylinders of larger capacity (150 of 500 litre and 150 of 450 litre).  Dispatch of these cylinders is likely to begin soon.

Oxygen imports

These companies are also importing Liquid Oxygen. 900 MT of Liquid Oxygen is being imported on Gratis basis from Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Thailand. A part of the consignment has already been received while a portion of it will be received shortly. In addition, 12840 MT of Liquid Oxygen is being imported on a commercial basis, taking the  total imports to 13,740 MT.