Indian refineries divert oxygen for Covid treatment

Indian state-controlled refineries are minimising their oxygen use and producing medical-grade liquid oxygen to help fight the country's worsening Covid-19 outbreak, the oil ministry said.

The oil sector is diverting 965 t/d of liquid medical oxygen to hospitals across the country, with steel companies sending 2,500-3,000 t/d, the ministry said on 25 April.

The requirement does not appear to be affecting refinery run rates, which have so far stayed largely high but may come under pressure as the epidemic slows economic activity.

Coronavirus cases in India increased by another 323,000 yesterday, taking the total number of infections to around 17.6mn and prompting a slew of lockdowns and restrictions that are putting more pressure on already waning fuel demand.

State-controlled oil firms are in the process of setting up medical oxygen generation plants at 93 locations across the country. State-run BPCL's Bina refinery is supplying oxygen and drinking water to a temporary 1,000-bed hospital being built nearby, while India's biggest refiner state-controlled IOC will secure cryogenic tankers to help oxygen, the oil ministry added.

India's home affairs ministry has restricted the use of liquid oxygen to medical purposes to help address acute shortages of medical oxygen to treat Covid-19 patients.

By Sathya Narayanan