Steel sector plays vital role in supplying medical oxygen to the country
Steel

Steel sector plays vital role in supplying medical oxygen to the country

In view of skyrocketing demand for oxygen in the country due to a record surge in Covid-19 cases, public sector steel companies under the Ministry of Steel and private steel companies have aligned themselves to supply oxygen for medical use.

Given the high demand for oxygen in the country, 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 and Management System (PRMS) to meet the process need at the desired pressure.

Such plants can produce 5-6% maximum liquid oxygen (LOX) at the peak capacity, which is a highly pure product compared to industrial oxygen. Plants can only optimise LOX production by sacrificing some gaseous Oxygen and optimise process parameters.

The Ministry of Steel told the media that plants in both the public and private sector are striving hard to supply liquid oxygen to different states. The average delivery of Liquid Medical Oxygen by SAIL has been raised to more than 800 tonnes per day. Around 1150T of LMO was delivered on 23 April, and the quantity delivered yesterday was 960 Tonne.

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), in FY 20-21, had supplied 8,842 ton of LMO. This FY, from 13 April till today morning, more than 1,300 tonnes of medical oxygen has been dispatched. There has been an increase from 100 tonne to 140 tonne in the last three days. The first Oxygen Express had left the RINL Vizag steel plant site on 22 April, carrying 100 tonne of LMO to Maharashtra to meet medical emergencies of Covid patients.

The total daily Oxygen production capacity of steel plants is 2834 metric tonne (mt). In the steel sector, there are 33 oxygen plants (both with CPSEs and in Pvt), 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 24 April 2021.

This is higher than the LMO production capacity because most units have reduced nitrogen and argon production and only produce LMO. With all these efforts, 2894 tonnes were dispatched to different states on 24 April by steel plants in the public and private sector as against 1,500/1,700 tonne per day a week earlier.

Image Source


Also Read: Steel plants to divert oxygen for emergency medical use

Also Read:  Tata Steel and JSPL facing logistics issue in supplying oxygen

In view of skyrocketing demand for oxygen in the country due to a record surge in Covid-19 cases, public sector steel companies under the Ministry of Steel and private steel companies have aligned themselves to supply oxygen for medical use. Given the high demand for oxygen in the country, 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 and Management System (PRMS) to meet the process need at the desired pressure. Such plants can produce 5-6% maximum liquid oxygen (LOX) at the peak capacity, which is a highly pure product compared to industrial oxygen. Plants can only optimise LOX production by sacrificing some gaseous Oxygen and optimise process parameters. The Ministry of Steel told the media that plants in both the public and private sector are striving hard to supply liquid oxygen to different states. The average delivery of Liquid Medical Oxygen by SAIL has been raised to more than 800 tonnes per day. Around 1150T of LMO was delivered on 23 April, and the quantity delivered yesterday was 960 Tonne. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), in FY 20-21, had supplied 8,842 ton of LMO. This FY, from 13 April till today morning, more than 1,300 tonnes of medical oxygen has been dispatched. There has been an increase from 100 tonne to 140 tonne in the last three days. The first Oxygen Express had left the RINL Vizag steel plant site on 22 April, carrying 100 tonne of LMO to Maharashtra to meet medical emergencies of Covid patients. The total daily Oxygen production capacity of steel plants is 2834 metric tonne (mt). In the steel sector, there are 33 oxygen plants (both with CPSEs and in Pvt), 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 24 April 2021. This is higher than the LMO production capacity because most units have reduced nitrogen and argon production and only produce LMO. With all these efforts, 2894 tonnes were dispatched to different states on 24 April by steel plants in the public and private sector as against 1,500/1,700 tonne per day a week earlier. Image SourceAlso Read: Steel plants to divert oxygen for emergency medical use Also Read:  Tata Steel and JSPL facing logistics issue in supplying oxygen

Next Story
Resources

Ajmera Realty launches tree drive on Environment Day

Ajmera Realty & Infra India marked World Environment Day with a large-scale tree plantation initiative—Plant-with-Purpose—across its projects in Mumbai and Bangalore. The drive was inaugurated at Ajmera Manhattan and Ajmera Greenfinity in Wadala, with senior company officials and residents in attendance. The campaign encourages residents to embrace eco-conscious, self-reliant lifestyles by growing useful plants and trees within their communities. Horticulture expert Devendra Bhekar guided residents on creating and maintaining green spaces. Ajmera Realty planted over 500 trees..

Next Story
Resources

Twaron®-reinforced tyre powers Brunel’s solar race car

Teijin Aramid’s Twaron® with circular content will debut in Bridgestone’s race tyres for the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, supporting the Brunel Solar Team’s Nuna 13 car. This marks the first use of the recycled-content aramid in a high-performance race tyre. The Twaron®-reinforced belts help enhance durability, reduce rolling resistance, and maintain lightweight strength—critical for the 3,000-km solar race across Australia. Bridgestone combines this with ENLITENTM tech and other recycled inputs to maximise environmental and performance outcomes. Teijin Aramid, a..

Next Story
Building Material

Kamdhenu Paints launches new wood coating range

Kamdhenu Paints has launched a comprehensive premium wood coating range designed for both interior and exterior applications. The collection includes high-performance solutions like Kamwood 2K PU for a rich matt or high-gloss finish, Kamwood 1K PU for clarity and stain protection, and the Kamwood Melamyne system for a smooth, durable finish. Also featured are Kamwood Wood Stains, which enhance wood grains with vibrant colour, and NC Sanding Sealer for high-build grain filling. The range is supported by Kamwood Thinners for ease of application and optimal finish. Saurabh Agarwal, MD, ..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?