The Indian steel sector has produced 3,474 MT of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) as against 2,834 MT of LMO production capacity in the steel sector.

Under the guidance and direction of Union Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Public Sector Undertakings, under the Ministry of Steel, and other private companies in the steel sector in this hour of need are with the nation and continuing their best to supplement the efforts of the government in making available LMO.

In the steel sector, there are 33 oxygen plants (both CPSEs and private) of which 29 are tapped regularly. As against 2,834 MT of daily LMO production capacity in the steel sector, the production of LMO is 3,474 MT as reported on 24th April 2021. This is higher than the LMO production capacity because most units have reduced the production of Nitrogen and Argon and only produce LMO. With all these efforts 2,894 tonnes were dispatched to different states on 24th April as against 1,500/1,700 MT/day a week earlier.

Steel plants require gaseous oxygen primarily for steel making and for oxygen enrichment in blast furnaces, apart from some general purposes like lancing and gas cutting. Hence Captive Oxygen Plants in Integrated Steel Plants are designed to produce primarily gaseous products of Oxygen, Nitrogen and Argon and then routed through Pressure Reduction & Management System (PRMS) to meet the process need at desired pressure. Such plants can produce 5-6% maximum Liquid Oxygen (LOX) at the peak capacity, which is a highly pure product compared to the industrial oxygen. Plants can only optimize LOX production by sacrificing some gaseous Oxygen and optimize process parameters.

In the meantime, all out efforts are being made to enhance the production of liquid oxygen and for dispensing the same for which all oxygen plants whether in private or public are working 24x7 and dispensing oxygen. Steel plants are also filling oxygen cylinders and supplying to the states/hospitals.

The average delivery of LMO by SAIL has been raised to more than 800 tonnes per day. Around 1,150 tonnes of LMO was delivered on 23rd April, and the quantity delivered on 24th April was 960 tonnes. SAIL has been continuously enhancing LMO supply. Total Liquid Medical Oxygen supplied from SAIL integrated steel plants at Bhilai, Bokaro, Rourkela, Durgapur and Burnpur from August, 2020 till yesterday has been 39,647 tonnes. 

As far as RINL is concerned, in the FY 2020-21, it had supplied 8,842 tonnes of LMO. From 13th April till 25th April morning, more than 1,300 ton of Medical Oxygen has been dispatched. There has been an increase from 100 tonnes to 140 tonnes in the last three days.