Govt prohibits oxygen supply for industry to meet demand for Covid patients

The government on Sunday said that it has prohibited the supply of oxygen for industrial purposes by manufacturers and suppliers forthwith April 22 onwards in wake of a surge in its demand for covid-19 patients in hospitals.

However, some industries have been exempted from the order such as Ampoules & Vials, Pharmaceutical, Petroleum refineries, steel plants, nuclear energy facilities, Oxygen cylinder manufacturers, Waste water treatment plants, Food & water purification and Process Industries which require uninterrupted operation of furnaces, processes as approved by respective State governments.

Citing an “unprecedented surge in the new daily cases of Covid” across the country, the health and family welfare ministry said that in view of the recent surge in the country of Covid-19 cases, the requirement of oxygen for effective clinical treatment of patients has also witnessed a “manifold hike”.


“It was considered prudent to restrict the industrial usage of oxygen to meet the rising demand for medical oxygen,” the ministry said, adding that surplus oxygen available up as a result of this temporary restriction will facilitate its freeing up for use as medical oxygen for treatment of Covid-19 patients.

“Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has conveyed that this has already reached about 60% of the total daily Oxygen production, and is expected to rise further,” the ministry said, adding that there have been reports of shortage of medical oxygen from some states and UTs.

The Empowered Group-II (EG-II) headed by DPIIT secretary is mandated by the government to manage requisite supplies of medical equipments, drugs including medical oxygen across the country.

Additionally, the Railways Ministry is gearing up to transport Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) and Oxygen Cylinders across the key Corridors, and to run OXYGEN Express, the government said. To facilities easy and smooth transport of oxygen across the country, a Green Corridor is being created to fast movement of Oxygen Express Trains to ensure supply of medical oxygen in bulk and rapidly to patients.