Steel sector rises up to Covid challenge

Country’s primary steel sector has overwhelmingly acted upon the clarion call to provide life-saving medical oxygen supplies along with setting up hospital care facilities on an urgent basis to mitigate the second wave of the Covid pandemic.

Around 30 oxygen plants located in the steel plants of both public and private sectors are supplying medical oxygen every day.

Medical oxygen supply per day from steel plants doubled to 3390 tons on April 30 from 1,500 tons on April 16.

According to sources, steel companies are keeping only half a day’s stock of Oxygen as buffer, giving away rest for medical purpose.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 23, held a meeting with leading oxygen manufacturers across the country via video conferencing to provide solutions in a very short time. PM Modi stressed on the need to maintain good co-ordination between the government and the oxygen producers.

The steel sector was asked to utilise the full potential of the industry to meet the demand of oxygen in the coming days. It was noted that there is a need to increase the availability of oxygen cylinders as well as upgrade the logistics facilities for transportation of oxygen. The option of utilisation of tankers meant to transport other gases for oxygen supply was also explored.

Primary steel makers mostly use oxygen in gaseous state for steel making while a small portion is made in liquid form.

Following intervention by the Government, liquid oxygen production was augmented. To meet the crisis, even oxygen in gaseous form from steel plants and oil refineries are now being supplied.

Linde and Praxair – two major companies that collectively manage and operate several air separation and manufacturing plants of more than 2,000 tons per day capacity mostly for the steel sector - are also converting their Liquid Nitrogen and Liquid Argon tankers to augment oxygen transportation capacities.