The government is using "linear programming", an operation research tool, to get oxygen to cities from their nearest sources
As the number of Covid-19 deaths due to the lack of medical oxygen at hospitals mounts, India’s big conglomerates have begun collaborating with the Union government on the production, supply, and storage of the essential medical resource.
The Tatas, Larsen & Toubro, and Bharat Forge on Sunday expressed interest in building pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants at hospital sites, while Indian Oil Corporation and Reliance Industries are pitching in with both oxygen and cryogenic tankers needed for its transportation.
India has also tied up with some of these companies to import tankers from four destinations — Dubai, Bangkok, Shanghai, and Dusseldorf. Four tankers from Singapore bought by the Tatas have already reached Vishakhapatnam on an Indian Air Force plane.
A total of 262 tankers are expected to be imported. IndianOil plans to manufacture 100 cryogenic tankers at its Nashik facility but the first units from there would be available only after three weeks.
As far as oxygen imports go, so far there has only been a firm commitment of 500 tonnes from a Gulf organization and about 3,000 tonnes from other countries against a tender of 50,000 tonnes floated on April 16. “The worrying part is these imports will not come immediately and are priced very high. Some of the global suppliers are taking advantage of the shortage,” said a senior government official.
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